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Have you ever explored a real castle?
At Doune Castle you are free to wander the grounds, climb the
ramparts, explore the dungeons and scullery, and imagine attending a
great banquet in one of the most impressive medieval great halls
anywhere. Sadly, Doune is largely unfurnished. But its authentic
medieval shell invites imaginations to become active. Come along for the
adventure!
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INVASION OF THE PYTHONS
(continued)
Doune Castle capitalized
on the success of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Python
pilgrims from the UK, America, and elsewhere continue to flock to the hulking castle in
hopes of expressing their irreverence. Some video themselves acting out short-but-famous
scenes from the film. Others cannot resist crying out silly quotes ("Bring out your
dead!" or "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of
elderberries!") when they arrive. Historic Scotland — who manages the castle on a
999-year lease — reckons that visitors to Doune have increased more than 40% (they
receive about 25,000 visitors a year) since the Pythons searched it for the Holy Grail.
THE CASTLE TODAY
Best preserved? Doune is a fairly large
courtyard-type castle with most of its architecture dating from the 14th and early 15th
centuries. Its most prominent features are two great keeps about 6 stories high. There is
an imposing 40-foot-high curtain wall and parapet. Among the many room’s, the great
Lord’s Hall with its musicians’ gallery, double fireplace and carved oak screen
are the most memorable. Doune Castle provides a living, working castle with a labyrinth of
rooms, interconnecting passageways and staircases.
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DOUNE ON BROADWAY — ERIC IDLE’S ‘SPAMALOT’ |
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Doune Castle hit the big time again in 2005
with the March Broadway opening of the musical, Spamalot, starring David Hyde
Pierce, Tim Curry, and Hank Azaria, and directed by Mike Nichols. Superb reviews
("The best musical to open on Broadway this year." – the Times) made
Spamalot
the hottest ticket in town with the biggest Broadway buzz in years. The play was nominated
for 14 Tony Awards including the prestigious award for Best Musical.
Former Python Eric Idle
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based on the 1974 film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which Idle
characterized as so "perfectly mock heroic (as to be) almost epic." |
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Getting There:
Doune Castle is easily reached from
HOME AT FIRST’s lodgings
in
CENTRAL SCOTLAND:
• By Car from
Central Scotland cottages: drive
the A84 south twenty minutes past Callander (direction Stirling). Before
crossing the landmark bridge in Doune, turn left into town, on the A820
east — direction Dunblane. Watch carefully for the castle driveway on
the right side of the A820 about ¼ miles after leaving the town of
Doune. The entrance driveway is one-lane wide with blind turns — go slowly!
•
Doune Castle is Open:
• April through September: 9:30AM-5:30PM daily
• October: 9:30AM-4:30PM daily
• November-March: 9:30AM-4:30PM daily except Thursday
• Closed December 25-26. Reduced hours on January 1.
• Admission: £4.20/adults; £3.40/seniors 60+
& students 16+;
£2.50/children 5-15; children under 5 free.
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SPECIAL NOTES:
• Parking: free, but 300 yards from the
castle entrance.
• A unique audio guide available, narrated
by Python's Terry Jones
and featuring the castle's real and fictional histories.
• Access to portions of the castle
unsuitable for wheelchairs:
Access: The castle courtyard and cellar, including display,
is accessible via a
steep, cobbled (but partially timbered) tunnel. Assisted access is
possible for
the determined, but is difficult. There are 24 steps to the great hall and
kitchens and 14 steps to the Baron’s Hall.
Safety: American guests will be surprised at the openness of the high
walkways and
stairwells, which would probably be closed to the public in the
U.S. for safety (lawsuit)
concerns. Keep an eye on your children. All that
openness is a great temptation to
unsupervised kids with vivid imaginations.
• Nature
trail and picnic tables on the castle grounds.
• Gift shop.
ANNUAL SPECIAL
EVENT: Monty Python Day at Doune
Castle
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Back by popular request is the annual Monty Python Day at Doune,
which features favorite Python sketches
songs and contests to determine the best Pythonesque impersonation &/or
performance and the best Python costumes.
• When? First Sunday in September
from 4-7PM.
• Tickets:
limited tickets available at |
PYTHONS INVADE
DOUNE CASTLE AGAIN! |
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£10/adult,
£8/seniors/students, £6/child.
• Get tickets in advance:
contact Historic Scotland's Events Team
Tel: +44 (0)131 668 8885. |
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You can visit all
kinds of castles as easy day trips
from Home At First lodgings
throughout Scotland.
Our exclusive "Scotland Activities Guide" has over
120 pages of suggestions for things to see and
do when you travel with Home At First
to:
SCOTLAND.
-HOME AT FIRST
offers travel to five
great regions of Scotland. Have your own cottage
in
CENTRAL SCOTLAND,
NORTHERN SCOTLAND, or
THE
SCOTTISH BORDERS.
Have your own city apartment in
EDINBURGH or
GLASGOW.
Minimum rental is one week, and you can
mix and
match with other
HOME AT FIRST destinations
throughout ENGLAND,
IRELAND,
and WALES.
Or, for complete information about travel
with
HOME AT FIRST to Britain & Ireland, see:
BRITISH ISLES.
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YOUR DREAM TRIP BEGINS BY CONTACTING
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VISIT OUR
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HOME PAGE!
You can visit castles in all parts of Scotland, Wales, and
England
as part of your trip with Home At First. Our exclusive Activity Guides
tell you all about how to do it well. Start planning your next visit
to Britain with a visit to Home At First.
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