Eilen Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is Scotland's most romantic castle. The name of the castle literally translates as "Donan Island". It is built on a small island, which according to research is artificial, it is also a crannog.
In the 6th century, the Christian missionary Donan came to these parts, settled on the island, he preached his faith among the Picts. Hence the name of the island. In the 13th century, the Scottish King Alexander II built a fortress here, and in 1236 Alexander III presented the castle to Colin Fitzgerald, who showed considerable bravery in the Battle of Largs against the Vikings of King Haakon IV of Norway. In 1362, the castle came under the control of the Mackenzie clan. In 1530, Donald Gorm MacDonald rebelled against the country's leadership and carried out attacks for ten years. In 1539, Eilean Donan Castle was guarded by a small garrison of soldiers, and Donald decided to storm its walls. During the battle, the castle's soldiers were almost crushed by the death of their commander, but Duncan Max, a vassal of the Mackenzie family, took over the defense. He fatally shot Donald McDonald with an arrow, and the stormtroopers, seeing his death, retreated. After this incident, only members of the Max family were appointed commandants of the castle.
During the Jacobite rising, the Mackenzie clan sided with the rightful heir to the throne. He was also supported by the Spaniards, who sent their troops to Scotland. The Spaniards placed an ammunition depot and a small garrison in Eilean Donan Castle. In 1719, the year became fatal for the castle and its garrison, three British ships approached the castle and began a massive bombardment, then landed troops that destroyed the entire garrison of Spanish soldiers. The British found gunpowder in the castle's cellars and blew up the remaining buildings with it. The castle was forgotten for two hundred years.
In 1911, the ruins of the castle Eilen-Donan was bought by John McRae-Gilstrap, who restored the castle for 20 years, according to the surviving castle plans. Nowadays, guided tours are conducted around the castle, only 6 rooms are inaccessible to visitors, and members of the McRae family still live in them. Guided tours are available from March 1 to November 2, and the cost is 4-6 euros, depending on age.
