Description of the attraction
Rushen Castle is a medieval castle on the Isle of Man, UK. It is located in the ancient capital of the island, Castletown. The castle now houses a museum, an educational center, and a functioning Isle of Man court.
The exact date of construction is unknown, but it is safe to say that it was built in the late XII - early XIII century - under the Norwegian rulers of the Isle of Man. According to the chronicle, the last of them, Magnus Olafson, died in the castle in 1265. Then the castle passes many times from the English to the Scots and vice versa. The fortress was partially destroyed by Robert the Bruce, but then rebuilt again.
The castle retained its military significance for a very long time, and only in the 18th century did it become the administrative center of the island. The mint and court are located here. Until the beginning of the 18th century, the castle held meetings of one of the chambers of the Maine parliament - "House of the Keys". Since the end of the 18th century, the castle has been used as a prison, but it is more and more dilapidated and destroyed, and only in the 20th century large-scale restoration work is carried out. In 1929, the castle was transferred to the Isle of Man government. The castle is now owned by the Maine National Heritage Foundation.
The fortress wall connects five towers. Visitors can walk along the fortress wall, climb the spiral staircase to the top of the tower and admire the panoramic view. The Clock Room contains a clock that belonged to Queen Elizabeth I. The clock is of the simplest design, with one hand, but it still runs properly. Also, tourists can look into the medieval kitchen, into the guard room and sit on the throne of the Lord of the Island in the Throne Room.
