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Carlisle Castle

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Carlisle Castle, Medieval castle in Carlisle, England

Description

Carlisle Castle is a fortress in northwestern England featuring massive stone walls, a Norman keep, and defensive towers positioned around its fortified compound. The grounds contain various buildings from different periods, showing how the stronghold evolved over centuries.

History

William II founded the original fortress in 1092 after defeating local leader Dolfin, building it on the remains of a Roman fort. The structure played a key role in border conflicts between England and Scotland over many centuries.

Culture

The castle walls hold medieval scratches and carvings left by prisoners during conflicts between England and Scotland. These marks tell stories of people held here who etched their thoughts into the stone.

Practical

The site is open to visitors and offers guided tours plus information about medieval military architecture. It is helpful to check ahead before arriving to see if interior spaces are available, as certain areas may sometimes be closed.

Did you know?

The fortress endured an eight-month parliamentary siege in 1644 during the English Civil War, leading to the surrender of Royalist forces. This event left marks on the structure and history of the place that visitors can still trace today.

Location
Inception
1093
Architectural style
Norman architecture
Operator
English Heritage
Address
Castle Way, Carlisle CA3 8UR, UK
Opening Hours
Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
GPS coordinates
54.89720,-2.94167
Latest update
January 8, 2026 13:37

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Carlisle).

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« Carlisle Castle - Medieval castle in Carlisle, England » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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