Солтүстік Шотландиядағы Данробин сарайы

Castle in the north of Scotland

Dunrobin Castle (mostly 1835–1845 — present) is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, as well as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of the Clan Sutherland. It is located 1 mile (2 km) north of Golspie and approximately 5 mile (8 km) south of Brora, overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Dunrobin's origins lie in the Middle Ages, but most of the present building and the gardens were added by Sir Charles Barry between 1835 and 1850. Some of the original building is visible in the interior courtyard, despite a number of expansions and alterations that made it the largest house in the north of Scotland. After being used as a boarding school for seven years, it is now open to the public.

The lands of Sutherland were acquired before 1211, by Hugh, Lord of Duffus, grandson of the Flemish nobleman Freskin. The castle may have been built on the site of an early medieval fort, but the oldest surviving portion, with an iron yett, is first mentioned in 1401. The castle is thought to be named after Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland (d.1444). Dunrobin Castle was built in the midst of a tribal society, with Norse and Gaelic in use at the time. Robert the Bruce planted the Gordons, who supported his claim to the crown, at Huntly in Aberdeenshire, and they were created Earls of Huntly in 1445. The Earldom passed to the Gordon family in the 16th century when the 8th Earl of Sutherland gave his daughter Elizabeth in marriage to Adam Gordon. After the 8th Earl died in 1508, Elizabeth's elder brother was declared heir to the title, but a italic=no (writ) of idiocy brought against him and his younger brother by the Gordons meant that the possession of the estate went to Adam Gordon in 1512. Alexander's son John made an attempt on the castle in 1550, but was killed in the castle garden. He sailed for Aberdeen where he joined the Duke of Cumberland's army. On the death of the 18th Earl in 1766, the house passed to his daughter, Elizabeth, who married the politician George Leveson Gower, later created 1st Duke of Sutherland. In 1785, the house was altered and extended again. The 14th century tower, and the 17th century and 18th century extensions, were retained, and survive within Barry's 19th century work. Dunrobin Castle railway station, on the Far North Line, was opened in 1870, as a private station for the castle. The present waiting room was constructed in 1902, and is a category B listed building. Scottish architect Sir Robert Lorimer was engaged to renovate the house following the war. Since 1973, the house and grounds have been open to the public, with private accommodation retained for the use of the Sutherland family. Much of Barry's interior was destroyed by the fire of 1915, leading to the restoration by Sir Robert Lorimer, although he incorporated surviving 17th century and 18th century work, including wood carvings attributed to Grinling Gibbons. A large quadrangular pile of four stories, with towers at each corner, connects to the older castle by a building of three stories and containing the stately apartments. There is no indication as to the origin of the name. The drawing room, made from two previous rooms by Lorimer during his restoration of the castle, looks out over the gardens and sea, and contains large Canalettos and 18th century tapestries, as well as portraits by Hoppner and Reynolds.

The French influence extends into the gardens, completed in 1850, with Barry taking inspiration from the French formal style of the Gardens of Versailles. Each parterre is set around a circular pool with a fountain, with the essential layout the same since it was created in around 1848. Barry designed the parterre as an optical illusion, seen from above they appear to stretch beyond their physical layout, by narrowing it gradually. The museum retains its Victorian Edwardian arrangement, and is housed in an 18th century summer house adjoining the formal gardens. The castle is open to visitors between April and October each year. Falconry displays are held in the castle's gardens by a resident Falconer.