Belvoir Castle (Belvoir)
Belvoir Castle is a splendid house set in a wonderful position on top of a hill at Belvoir in Leicestershire, with views for many miles. It is said that on a clear day Lincoln Cathedral is visible.
It fulfils the popular dream of a romantic castle, with its super collection of towers, turrets and crenellations.
It is the home of the Dukes of Rutland.
The original Belvoir Castle was built by Robert de Todeni, standard bearer to William the Conqueror, in the 11th century, not long after the Norman Conquest.
This castle was greatly damaged during a siege in 1461. Lord Hastings then acquired it, and removed some of the stone for his Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle.
The first Earl of Rutland rebuilt Belvoir Castle in the mid 16th century, but during the Civil War it was slighted in 1646 and shortly afterwards demolished in 1649.
Yet more rebuilding took place soon after, and the fairytale castle that is widely known and loved today is largely 19th century, the work of James Wyatt.
The castle has a fine collection of works of art, and there are delightful gardens.
Some scenes for the hugely popular film "The Da Vinci Code" were shot at Belvoir Castle.