CASTLES

This group is for CASTLES around the world which includes FORTIFIED MANOR HOUSES and ANCIENT HILL FORTS - and for some fun, we can include SANDCASTLES and LEGO BUILT CASTLES - these two categories both in traditional historical designs only.

SUBMISSIONS - unlimited but please do not flood the group with too many in one go....better to space them out between other member's works.

FEATURES will probably, at least to begin with, be fortnightly. I do not feature every picture which is submitted. Instead I choose only those which I think are the best for the fortnight so I hope you will feel that having a picture featured is something a little bit special.

DISCUSSION PAGES are there for YOU to use. The more the discussion pages are used the higher our group goes in the group rankings. This is YOUR group.....please use it fully.

PLEASE READ ALL FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING GROUP RULES.

1) Photography and YOUR OWN Paintings or YOUR OWN Drawings....NOTE....Paintings and Drawings must be YOUR OWN WORK not photographs of someone else's work and very definitely NOT COMPUTER GENERATED IN ANY WAY and certainly NOT AI pictures. Discrete enhancements such as deepening colour, straightening horizons, cropping, selected colour are allowed but nothing which takes away from the integrity of the original photograph or painting and no photographs altered to 'painterly' mode. Please be sure to write into the appropriate space the medium you have used....i.e. photograph / oil painting on board / water colour on 300gm pressed paper / pastel on ingres paper and so on.

2) The castles can include conventional stone or brick built castles or fortified manor houses in any state of repair, recognised ancient hill forts and also sandcastles or Lego type constructions with some turrets. If in doubt as to whether or not your image will qualify for the group please contact Admin.

3) Your Castle must be the main focus of your image, not a distant shape on far horizon and your horizon must please be straight.

4) Please add location in the description and any information about your castle that you have which will be interesting to a viewer. DEFINITE INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IS THE COUNTRY in which you found your castle, and the nearest town would also be good as it is nice to know where the castle is.


Dictionary definitions of what makes a conventional/historical castle -

Oxford Dictionary: a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.
Cambridge Dictionary ; a large strong building, built in the past by a ruler or important person to protect the people inside from attack
Collins Dictionary: A castle is a large building with thick, high walls. Castles were built by important people, such as kings, in former times, especially for protection during wars and battles. The citadel and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval town. A fortified building or set of buildings, usually permanently garrisoned, as in medieval Europe


Contests 2025

A ROUND TOWER - completed 4th September 2025

FIRST PLACE - SHAWN BOYLE



SHARED SECOND PLACE - ANN COUNTZ, NEALE AND JUDITH CLARK, BOB MARTIN (2) and LIESL WALSH











SHARED THIRD PLACE - MICHAEL RILEY, CHRIS HILL, KENNETH LEMPERT, LESLEY EVERED, MICAH OFFMAN, NICK EAGLES, MARLIN AND LAURA HUM, NANDO LARDI, RON LONG PHOTOGRAPHY and BOB PHILLIPS - these winning pictures may be seen here: https://fineartamerica.com/groups/1-castles-.html?tab=discussions&showmessage=true&messageid=10615705&targetid=10615705#10615705
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Other FAA Groups I administer:

- Coastal Counties Of Southern England
- Islands Around The United Kingdom
- Chairs Benches And Other Man Made Seating