Nottingham Castle, Castle and museum in Nottingham, England
Nottingham Castle is a fortification and museum perched on a sandstone cliff rising 40 meters (130 feet) above the city, with defensive walls and underground passages carved through the rock. The complex combines military architecture with a ducal mansion that houses art collections and exhibitions on local history.
William the Conqueror ordered construction of the first wooden fortress in 1067, later rebuilt in stone under Henry I. The current mansion arose after the English Civil War, when the site was redesigned and lost its military role.
The name derives from Anglo-Saxon Snotengaham, meaning the settlement of Snot's people, reflecting the city's deep roots. Visitors today see a ducal mansion from the 17th century that continues the tradition of local power and serves as an art gallery.
Entry includes the grounds, museum rooms, and guided tours through the medieval caves beneath the site. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as some underground areas have uneven surfaces and exploring requires stairs.
The site contains a network of over 500 sandstone caves dating from medieval times, used for storage, defense, and escape routes. Some of these caves run several stories deep and connect different parts of the fortification.
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