castle – Page 2 – Snapping The Globe

The Climb To the Castle

How high can you get in Barcelona?

Very high!

There are some amazing places in Barcelona to get beautiful views of the city.

The Montjuic Castle, the sight of an old military fortress, was a place I had been vowing to visit on one of my trips to Barcelona, yet, I just hadn’t been there with a day clear enough to take advantage of its orientation high above the city and the fantastic views it offered.

Starting my journey, I ventured out to the Plaza d’Espana metro station so that I could walk up the steps to the Museum of National Art of Catalonia and get a bit of exercise. The views here are also incredible as is the architecture and the Magic Fountain which can be seen in all its glory during operating hours (see schedule below).

Passing the gardens along Passeig de Santa Madrona, I made my way to the Avinguda de L’Estadi and the Telefèric de Montjuïc . Always looking for a fun way to travel, I assumed that the
telefèric would be an amazing way to get up to the castle…and to be honest, I was quite tired!

Thrilled to find no line, I was able to secure my own cable car, allowing for optimum photographic opportunities. However, with the car being so light and the wind so strong, the swinging of the car from side to side was a bit daunting as we made the final stretch of the journey to the castle.

Stepping out of the telefèric station, I was happy to find the castle’s location right alongside, providing some instant photographic gratification.

Heading to the front of the castle, I found it to be much larger than I had anticipated and I admired the four bastions at each corner of the curtain wall. Crossing the bridge to the castle, which traversed the Santa Eulàlia Moat, I discovered it to be no longer filled with water, but with beautiful flowers and grassy areas.

Purchasing my ticket, I ventured onto the castle’s sea wall. There are many pieces of artillery and sculpture and entryways to the castle’s dungeon, but the most stunning is the 360º views of the port, the Mediterranean, the coastline and the area of Baix Llobregat.

Making my way around the castle I admired the architecture and the landscaping, eyeing the fruit trees at the rear of the property which made me realize how hungry I was, thinking maybe I would have to check out the cafe.

Entering the interior courtyard of the castle, the parade grounds, I ventured through the passageways, enjoying the displays at the rear of the castle highlighting the Mountain of Barcelona and how its position in the city has affected historical events, the Prison and Memory of Barcelona which tells about the castle’s history as a military prison and an exhibit which details The Search of Freedom.

Finally making my way to the terrace, the highest point of the castle, I took in the amazing views of Barcelona, Montjuïc Hill and the castle itself. On the roof, above the entrance, standing tall, is the square watchtower that signaled the arrival of ships through a system of sails during the day and bonfires at night. On the tower’s eastern and western facades, there are two sundials, dating back to 1777, which once was responsible for giving the time in the morning (eastern facing) and for the afternoon (western facing). A plaque on the base of the tower describes the tower as the location where the French astronomer Pierre Méchain obtained the geographical coordinates of Barcelona in 1792 and 1793 and established the trig point that would serve to measure the meridian from Dunkirk. The length of this meridian, linking Barcelona, Paris and Dunkirk, was used as the basis of the metric system.

From a sign posted near the tower, I learned that tours of the watchtower are conducted three to four times a day in both English and Catalan. Since I had missed the tour times, I had to content myself with enjoying the views from the outside. Making a mental note of the tour times, I decided that it would be important to plan the next visit according to the times posted, as I discovered that the guide also takes you down to the dungeons where extensive graffiti has been uncovered, made by those were imprisoned there during different stages of the building’s history.

As I headed back to towards the parade grounds, I located the cafe and eyed the sweet offerings in its showcase. Since it was later in the day, I decided to save my appetite for dinner and enjoy a cold beer in the courtyard instead. It was an amazing end to my day, soaking up both the architectural history and the warm afternoon sun.

As the afternoon came to a close, I wandered back the way I had come, to the telefèric station. Once again, I was able to secure a cable car for myself, only this time, the city was aglow in the light of the setting sun.

After exploring such a beautiful historical setting, I couldn’t image more of a magical ending to a fantastic day. So amazing to be soaring high above the amazing city of Barcelona!

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Monjuic Castle

http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/castelldemontjuic/en
Address: Ctra. de Montjuïc, 66, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Hours: March 1 until November 1, 1000-2000, daily. November 2 until February 28, 1000-1800, daily. Closed December 25 and January 1.
Admission: Standard admission, 5€, Reduced admission, 3€. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month and Sundays after 1500. Guided tours lasting 1 hour are offered at 1100 and 1500 each day and let visitors discover places within the castle not normally open to the public. Tours, 4€
Getting There: By foot. The walk uphill to Montjuïc Castle from the top of the funicular (lower station, Paral.lel, metro lines 2 and 3), adjacent to the cable car station, takes about 20 to 25 minutes. By public transportation. Bus, line 150, origin Avinguda de la reina Maria Cristina, terminus Montjuïc Castle. Bus 150 goes round Montjuïc Hill before finally reaching the Castle. The ride from Plaça d’Espanya takes about 20 minutes. The descent from the Castle to the beginning of the line also takes 20 minutes. Bus 150 also connects with the
Telefèric de Montjuïc at the bus stop Avinguda de Miramar-Estació del Funicular. The cable car service begins in Avinguda Miramar and leaves visitors in front of the Castle. It has three stops, the first in Avinguda Miramar, one in the middle in the Plaça de la Sardana, and one in front of the Castle. The price of the cable car does not include admission to the Castle. By car. If you arrive by private vehicle, there is a large public car park near the castle on Carrer dels Tarongers.

Telefèric de Montjuïc

https://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/es
Address: Avinguda Miramar, 30, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Hours: November-February 1000-1800, daily. March-May, 1000-1900, daily. June-September, 1000-2100, daily. October, 1000-1900, daily.
Admission: Adults, 8,40€, one-way, 12,70€ roundtrip. Children, ages 4-12, 6,60€, one-way, 9,20€ roundtrip. Children under age 4, free.

Magic Fountain

https://www.barcelona.cat/en/what-to-do-in-bcn/magic-fountain/magic-fountains-show-times
Hours: November 1 until January 6, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2000-2100, music and color, 2000 and 2030. January 7 until February 28, closed for maintenance. March 1 until March 31, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2000-2100, music and color, 2000 and 2030. April 1 until May 31, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2100-2200, music and color, 2100 and 2130. June 1 until September 30, Wednesday to Sunday, 2130-2230, music and color, 2130 and 2200. October 1 until October 31, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2100-2200, music and color, 2100 and 2130.
Admission: free

Finding the Falls

Sometimes you feel as if you have seen all there is to see in a city, even though you haven’t.

Take the time to move on for a while and come back later.

Maybe because I always seem to be in Zurich on Sundays, when everything is closed, is why I always feel as if there is nothing to do. So, sometimes, I dread my trips to the Swiss city if I will be there on the seventh day of the week. Not to say that there isn’t more to see, I just never seem to be there when it is available.

Having explored much of the city near the lake and the Old Town, I had grown a little tire of that area (Gasp…yes, I said that!) and was interested in finding another part of the city (or even country) to investigate.

Since I was going to have some time in Zurich during the beautiful crisp days of Fall, I decided that I was going to venture out of the city to see what I could find.

A friend of mine from Schaffhausen suggested that I take the train to the Rhine Falls if the weather was nice.

Arriving to bright sunshine, I decided to forego my nap, head to the train station and find my way to what is described as the largest waterfall in not only Switzerland, but Europe!

Located on the High Rhine, the falls are 492 feet wide, 75 meters high and were formed approximately 14,000 to 17,000 years ago by erosion-resistant rocks narrowing the riverbed.

Deciding to make a connection in Wintertur in order to keep the ticket price a bit lower, I boarded the train and watched the rolling hills fly by until I arrived in my connecting station. As luck would have it, my connecting train was on the next track and I was quickly on my way to my final station.

About an hour after I departed, I was arriving in Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall.

Since I had arrived on the southern bank (the paid side), I purchased my ticket using the automated machine and passed through the turnstile making my way down the shady path. The sound of the water guided me along the trails and at each viewing platform, I relished the beautiful views, each one surpassing the previous.

As I made my way toward the falls, I was thrilled to discover an opening in the rocks, leading to a cave opening up directly to the falling water…the air moist and the roar of rushing water deafening in the small space! Despite the low lighting, it was an amazing photo opportunity and a unique perspective of the natural phenomenon.

Following the winding path back toward the way I had come, I continued onward until reaching the boat dock. Here I analyzed the different boat tours offered. The first option a 15 minute ride would bring me right in front of the falls (7.00 CHF) and the second, a 30 minute minute ride provided a stop at the tall rock in the center of the falls with a viewing platform at the top (20.00 CHF). Since I was toting my expensive camera and didn’t want to get wet on the cool afternoon, I opted for the short tour.

Boarding a boat (included in tour price), I crossed the Rhine and disembarked on the other side, moving to the boarding area for Tour 4, with the boat captain calling for boarding a few minutes later.

Pulling away from the dock, we sailed away into the river, along north bank and passed so near the falls that the mist descended upon us quickly. Despite getting a little wet, however, the views from this vantage point were remarkable, exhibiting the magnificent power of the raging waters.

During my fifteen minute expedition, we cruised back and forth in front of the falls allowing me to get some amazing photos and also see what I missed by not venturing to the top of the rock in the middle of the river. Everyone at the top of the rock was wearing ponchos and their hair was quite damp! It made me (and my camera) glad that I chose the shorter (and cheaper) boat tour.

As the boat deposited me back at the dock, I decided to walk along the shore and see what else was offered.

There were food trucks and restaurants offering a vast array of food and drink and a beautiful path along the waterway. Meandering slowly so that I could enjoy the views and the sunshine, I soon shed my coat and took a seat on one many benches placed strategically so that visitors could relax and enjoy the spectacle that the falls offer.

Continuing on my way, I came to the 17th century mill, which once contained a blast furnace for smelting iron ore in the limestone. In operation until the first half of the 19th century, it now offers beautiful photo opportunities though nothing more.

Once again, on my way, I discovered pathways leading both into the town of Schaffhausen and up the steep embankments toward the railway bridge leading back to the Schloss Laufen. Since I wasn’t sure how to retrace my steps back to Zurich from the Schaffhausen train station, nor whether my ticket would be valid, I headed toward the bridge, positive that it would take me back to the station in which I had arrived.

The pathways were shady and well kept with many overlooks offering outstanding views of the falls from different perspectives and I took my time to enjoy them all. Finally, I arrived at the railway bridge and happily found a pedestrian walkway leading toward Schloss Laufen.

The castle, a seat of the barons of Laufen has a rich history including the ownership by grand nobility. Once operating as a wine tavern, the castle has also offered rooms as a youth hostel since 1946. Though I didn’t venture inside, I did walk the grounds of the castle, the cemetery and the nearby church, even poking my head in for a quick prayer for a safe trip back to Zurich.

Heading back to the platform, it was time to make the hour’s journey back to Old Town and a warm dinner, despite the exhaustion I was starting to feel due to lack of sleep.

So…was heading out of the city to the Rhine Falls worth the hour’s journey?

Absolutely!

Witnessing nature’s beauty first hand…so worth the lack of sleep!

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Rhine Falls

https://rheinfall.ch/en/
Address: Rheinfallquai 32, 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall
Hours: Northern banks, Neuhausen am Rheinfall/Schaffhausen, free access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Southern banks with Schloss Laufen, Dachsen/Zurich, viewing platform access open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Souvenir Shop/Ticketing/Historama, June, July and August, 0800-1900. September, October, April and May, 0900-1800. November, February and March, 0900-1700. December and January, 1000-1600.
Admission: Northern banks with Schlössli Wörth, Neuhausen am Rheinfall/Schaffhausen, free admission. Southern banks with Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall, Dachsen/Zurich, 5.00 CHF per person. Included in the ticket price, access to the Historama and the viewing platforms. Children, ages 6-15 years, 3.00 CHF. Groups, 15-29 persons, 3.00 CHF per person. Groups, more than 30 persons, 2.00 CHF. Prices, 1 CHF is equal to 1 USD.
Boat Tours: Short Tour, 15 minutes, Adults, 7.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 4.00 CHF. Long Tour with stop at the rock, 30 minutes , Adults, 20.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 15.00 CHF. Audioguide Tour, 30 minutes, Adults, 10.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 7.00 CHF
Getting There: Direct trains are available from Zurich HB to Schloss am Laufen and Schaffhausen. Connections can also be made in Wintertur (prices lower with connection). When arriving in Schaffhausen, the Rhyfall Express train runs between the historic old town and the falls and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Schloss Laufen

http://www.schlosslaufen.ch/en/

The Castle in the Woods

A chapel and a castle?

After visiting Rosslyn Chapel, take a walk down the picturesque country road, past Rosslyn Cemetery.

Taking in the beautiful countryside scenery, you will soon find yourself encountering the ruins of Rosslyn Castle, a sharp contrast to the well-preserved chapel that we had just visited.

Perched high on a bluff, in the middle of a wooded valley and surrounded on three sides by the River North Esk, are the remnants of the Sinclair family manor. Only accessible by a narrow bridge crossing a wide ravine, the remains are quite a surprise, hidden away in the dense forest.

The building of the castle was begun in 1304 by William St. Clair of Rosslyn and over the next three centuries reinforced, bombarded, rebuilt, extended, burned and all but destroyed. Since it never was a very secure structure, it became the home for many generations of Sinclairs, until William, died in 1778. After a visit by Cromwell’s troops, the castle was left pretty much in the same condition as it can be seen today.

While crossing the bridge, it’s difficult to imagine what may have once been here, but still impressive nonetheless. Gone is the original Wall Tower, the earliest part of the castle and the gatehouse over the entrance, but fragments of the fore walls still stand tall at the end of the walkway.

A French influenced two story home stands to the left of the courtyard, also built by William Sinclair, when he extended the castle between 1582 and 1597. Though the home is still in good condition, it is not accessible to the public.

As we descended a path near the start of the bridge, we walked beneath the remaining castle walls toward the river’s edge. Here, gardens once prospered and provided food for those who resided in the castle. The river gurgled and wound its way through the forest and we walked over the footbridge to take a closer look. We learned later that there is a scenic river walk from the ruins of the Roslin Gunpowder Mills, through what used to be a carpet factory and cottages, across the North Esk, around the castle, below the chapel via Gardener’s Brae and to Hawthornden and beyond.

Taking the short walk on our return back to the bus stop, we stopped for a few moments to pay our respect at the Rosslyn Cemetery.

While out at Rosslyn Chapel, make time to explore the forgotten ruin, an important part of Scotland’s and the Sinclair family history.

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Rosslyn Castle

http://www.sinclairgenealogy.info/rosslyn-castle

Dublin’s Donjon

If you were a fan of the Tudors, chances are that you saw the Dublin castle in the pilot…only it wasn’t portrayed as the Dublin Castle…it appears as the Vatican!

A long way from the Pope’s Italian abode, the Dublin Castle, originally built in the 13th century, on a site previously settled by Vikings, has served many functions…military fortress, prison, treasury, courts of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years.

In 1938, it was decided that the inauguration of the first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde would take place in the castle. Since this time, the complex has hosted this ceremony ever since as well as official State visits, State dinners, informal foreign affairs engagements, state banquets and government policy launches. The castle also acts as the central base for Ireland’s hosting of the European Presidency approximately every ten years.

The Castle, a major tourist attraction, draws thousands of tourists through its doors every year. On this day, I would be one of them.

Disembarking from the city bus, I walked to the castle’s location on Dame Street and through the arched entrance to the complex. First, entranced by the Royal Chapel, I walked around the building in order to see the complexities and beauty of the architecture, then entered the courtyard of the castle and ticket office.

Paying my entrance fee, I opted for the self-guided tour, which includes access to the State Apartments and exhibits, as I was limited on time and could not wait for a guided tour to begin.

Walking up the beautifully carpeted stairway I began my exploration of the State Apartments including the State Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, the Portrait Gallery, the Apollo Room, the Wedgewood Room, the Gothic Room, State Bedrooms and State Corridor and St. Patrick’s Hall, each decorated in the fashion that one would expect of a castle…lots of velour and gilt!

The first room I encountered was St. Patrick’s Hall, the awe-inspiring ceremonial room. Originally developed as the castle’s ballroom, the hall served for many years as the meeting place of the Knights of St. Patrick, Ireland’s chivalric order of knights whose flags still grace the walls and then becoming the official site of the presidential inaugurations. Glancing upward, the ceiling is the most note-worthy aspect of this great room with its painting by Italian artist Vincenzo Waldre. As you wander throughout the room, you can almost feel the presence of the famous dignitaries that have graced this room, including John F. Kennedy, Princess Grace of Monaco and Queen Elizabeth II.

Next, on my tour, was the Gothic Room, the circular space created as a supper room, in 1775, while the medieval Bermingham Tower was being reconstructed. Being located directly above the State kitchen made it a convenient location for private dinners and a place to serve refreshments during balls. On display in the room is a collection of sixteenth-century religious and mythological paintings on loan from the Schorr Collection.

Walking from the Gothic Room, into the Wedgewood Room, you notice the stark contrast of the gothic style transitioning to the neoclassical. This blue and white room (with its color scheme taken from Wedgewood china) was the castle’s billiard room and remarkably, once a place for a small indoor garden filled with exotic birds, trees and water fountains in the nineteenth century.

My next destination was the State Portrait Gallery and the State Dining Room. The room, filled with a collection of portraits of Irish Viceroys gracing the walls since 1849, has acted as the area where State dinners were held and continue to be held today. The dining table is set with Waterford crystal and the Irish State dinner service, featuring the national emblem, the gold harp, so that tourists can get an idea of what a dignitaries might enjoy.

The Throne Room, the focal point of royal ceremonies in Ireland, was the next destination. Created in 1788, as an audience chamber for the Viceroy to receive guests on behalf of the British monarch, it was also the site where young debutantes were presented at court to mark their formal entry into aristocratic society. The rather plain throne was made for King George IV’s visit to Ireland in 1821 and was later used by Queen Victoria and King Edward VII during their visits to the Castle. Overshadowing the throne are the six mythological paintings by Italian artist Gaetano Gandolfi (1767), over the doorways in the room.

The Drawing Room was built in the 1830s as the principle reception room of the Lord Lieutenant and his household. Though destroyed by fire in 1941, the room was reconstructed from 1964 to 1968 and is now exclusively used for receptions of foreign dignitaries.

The Apollo room was my next stop and a swift glance upward will enlighten you as the origins of its name…the Greek god of the arts and music, Apollo, is in the center of the ceiling. Rescued from a nearby Georgian townhouse in 1912, the ceiling unbelievably arrived at the castle in eleven separate pieces! Looking at the seamless artistry, you would never guess!

The last part of the tour was my favorite. Entering the State Corridor is like entering a mirror maze. A parading procession of vaults and arches lined up before me, beautifully lit from above. Though rather simplistic, I could only imagine the time when the corridor was originally lit by skylights.

As I exited the building, and stepped into the courtyard, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that the Royal Chapel was not included in the self-guided tour. Spying a group headed that way, I watched as another individual tried to slip into the building behind them, unnoticed, but was turned away.

The Royal Chapel…it will wait until another day. In the meantime, maybe I will watch some of the other television shows and movies that have been filmed here…Ripper Street, Penny Dreadful, Michael Collins and Becoming Jane. Maybe I’ll get to see the Royal Chapel, after all.

Check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe for more pictures.

Dublin Castle

http://dublincastle.ie
Address: Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Hours: Monday – Sunday & Bank Holidays, 0945 – 1745 (last admission 1715) Closed: 25th, 26th & 27th December, and 1st January
Admission: Adult €10.00, Senior (60+) €8.00, Child (6-17) €4.00, Family (max. 2 adults & 5 children) €24.00
Guided Tours: Guided Tours take approximately 70 minutes and include the State Apartments, the Viking Excavation and the Chapel Royal
Visitors can choose to self-guide (access to State Apartments and exhibitions only). Brochures are offered on the State Apartments in seventeen languages at the ticket desk as well as additional information resources.
Getting There: Buses: 13, 27, 40, 49, 54A, 56A, 77A, 123, 150 and 747 Airlink. All bus stops are situated on Dame Street or Lord Edward Street

Divine De Haar

Located in the center of the Netherlands near Utrecht, De Haar Castle, is a medieval fortress complete with towers, ramparts, canals, gates and drawbridges. Entirely restored and partially rebuilt in the 19th century, it is a sight to behold and quite unlike anything you would expect from the less than flamboyant Dutch.

Getting to De Haar Castle was so much easier than I ever thought. Worried about changing trains in Utrecht and then to a bus in Vleuten, I had put off visiting De Haar Castle for quite some time. Laying in my bed the night before, trying to decide what to do the next day and knowing that the weather was not going to be optimum, I decided that in the very least, it was something to do that was indoors and probably worth the trip.

The agents in the Amsterdam train station were extremely helpful when purchasing our tickets. While checking train schedules, I knew that there were certain trains that provided a better connection in Utrecht, however, connect time was only about eleven minutes. The agent informed us which Utrecht train to take for the better connection, but gave us a choice…wait in Amsterdam Central a little longer for that train or go to Utrecht on a train leaving sooner and have more time for the connecting train in Utrecht. We decided on the first train, in the event that the other might be running behind…better to wait in Utrecht!

Travel to Utrecht is a quick twenty-six minutes. The station is not very large and finding the platform for the Vleuten train was brief and uncomplicated. The journey from Utrecht to Vleuten is only ten minutes. Walking down from the platform, take a left, under the tracks and you will see the bus stop straight ahead on the left. The #111 bus to De Haar Castle (on certain days) runs approximately every thirty minutes and drops off right in front of the castle.

The ride to the castle is quite short, through the beautiful countryside. Before we realized, the bus was coming to a stop and we had our first glimpse of the castle’s outer walls. A short walk led us to the gatehouse, the courtyard and the ticket office. Walking toward the impressive castle through the front gardens, one can imagine how lovely it would be during the spring and summer months when everything is in bloom.

Tours begin on the top of the hour so there was some time to walk around and take pictures of the beautiful grounds and the castle’s exterior. After finally entering the castle, we found a coat check room and lockers for our belongings. We also found a sign stating that no pictures are allowed…very disappointing for this photography lover!

The hour long tour take you through different parts of the grand home, from the kitchen to the guestrooms and touches on the history of the castle. In 1890, De Haar was inherited by Baron Etienne van Zuylen who was wed to Baroness Helene de Rothschild. Plans were made to rebuild the castle which was in disrepair, with architect Pierre Cuypers in 1892, a project that took 20 years to complete. The castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, of which only about 10 are shown on the tour.

Interior photos (of course, we sneaked a few)

Surrounding the castle are magnificent gardens designed by Hendrik Copijn. Many waterworks can be found throughout as well as a formal garden modeled after those of Versailles. The village of Haarzuilens, formerly located where the park was to be built, was demolished for construction of the gardens, with the exception of the town church, and moved further up the valley, where it can be visited today. Most of the buildings were designed by Pierre Cuypers and his son Joseph. The coat of arms does not only live on in the colors of the castle, but also in nearly all of the houses in Haarzuilens.

Upon completion of our tour, we once again returned to the grounds, fighting the wind and drizzle, finding the chapel, which we had hoped to visit, closed. It was easy to imagine how returning during the warmer months would be extremely enjoyable, venturing out into the sunshine to encounter the Rose Garden, the Roman Garden, ponds, canals, bridges, vistas and impressive avenues. Reading somewhere that each season at the castle has its own charm, I can promise you that due to the ornery weather, winter’s charm was not going to be experienced during our visit…only winter’s misery!

Catching the bus at the same location, we returned to the Vleuten train station for the brief journey to Utrecht and Amsterdam.

One would expect a castle of this caliber to be found throughout other parts of Europe, not the Netherlands. Thanks to the Van Zuylen family, however, it is one that you can experience on a trip to the country most known for its windmills and cheese. If you are in search of history and architecture, then, De Haar Castle is worth the effort.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

De Haar Castle

http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english-version/
Opening Hours: January 4-March 13, daily, 11:00-17:00. March 14-June 30, daily, 10:00-17:00. Tours depart on the hour, last tour 16:00.
Admission: Castle entrance and all day park access, Adults, 14,00€, Children (ages 4-12), 9,00€, Children (under 4), free
Admission: Park entrance only, Adults 4,00€, Children (ages 4-12), 3€, Children (under 4), free
Getting there: Trains depart for Utrecht from Amsterdam Central station regularly. From Utrecht Central Station take the train to Vleuten (train destination: Den Haag Centraal, not the intercity, but the sprinter). At Vleuten station, go down the stairs and turn left to the bus station. Take bus #111 on Wednesday, weekends and special holidays. Bus will drop you right next to the castle. For other days, take bus #127 to Breukelen and get off at the “Kasteel” bus stop at Haarzuilens. From here, it’s a 15 minute walk to the castle.
Additional option: On a nice day, rent a bike in Utrecht and ride to the castle, about one hour and 15 minutes.