EILEAN DONAN CASTLE

The Monument and Its History
Eilean Donan Castle is a historic fortress located on a small island of the same name, next to Loch Duich in the northwest of Scotland. This island is connected to the nearby Atlantic Ocean via Loch Alsh, and it can only be reached by boat or by crossing a narrow stone bridge that links it to the shore. Its strategic location once made it an almost impregnable stronghold. The nearest town is Kyle of Lochalsh, about 13 kilometers away, not far from Inverness.

Construction of the current castle began in the year 1220 by order of King Alexander II of Scotland, on the ruins of an ancient fort once used by the Picts. Its main purpose was to defend against Viking raids. Over time, it became a key site in the power struggles of medieval Scotland, and it is said that Robert the Bruce even found refuge there while fleeing the forces of Edward I of England.

Later on, the castle became the residence of the MacRae clan, although it was abandoned after the union of the kingdoms of Scotland and England. In 1719, it was briefly occupied by a Spanish expedition aiming to spark a Scottish uprising against the British crown. After a month of occupation, three British warships entered Loch Alsh and heavily bombarded the castle until the foreign troops surrendered. From that point on, Eilean Donan remained in ruins.

It wasn't until 1912 that John MacRae-Gilstrap began its reconstruction, a project that lasted two decades. The restored castle reopened in 1932 and has since become one of the most visited landmarks in Scotland. In addition to being the official seat of the MacRae clan, its striking setting has been chosen as the backdrop for various films.

For those who wish to take a piece of this history home, a miniature brick model of the castle is available. Each kit is built piece by piece, allowing model enthusiasts to recreate this iconic Scottish monument with their own hands.