For those who like to travel, here we submit a not-to-be-missed historical attraction off the coast of France.

In world where modern design and technological advances have led to the construction of some of the most impressive (and unusual) residences, it cannot be forgotten that history has provided us with some unforgettable abodes that will continue to rival their modern descendents long after the foundations begin to crumble.  One such monument to oddity is the famous Mont. St. Michel, and eccentric little island just off the coast of Normandy.

Mont St Michel

The tiny isle lies about 1 km from the coast, and served as the seat of power for the Romano-British empire until it was overrun and captured by the Franks near the end of the 7^th century.  Perhaps the most notable characteristic of the place is the ancient Benedictine abbey which dominates nearly the entire island.  The history of the place is steeped in religious lore.  According to folklore, the massive church (and the island itself) is named after the Archangel Michael, who instructed the Bishop of Avranches to build a church on the location, and when repeatedly ignored, burned a hole through the clergyman’s skull with his finger.

One of the most impressive structures associated with the abbey is a set of steps known as the Escalier de Dentelle, which consists of over nine hundred steps and reaches all the way to the roof of the building.  Although the abbey (which dates from the 11^th century) is no longer the site of religious rites and pilgrimages, it can still boast a colorful history.  It has faced numerous battles and political upheavals.  During the French Revolution, the abbey was converted to a prison, housing mainly political and clerical opponents to the regime of the time.

If there weren’t already enough reasons to visit Barcelona, Spain, now you have another one.  Casa Batllo is situated at 43 Passeig de Gracia in the Illa de la Discordia in Barcelona, and it is open for tours to the lucky traveler.

The structure itself was built in 1877, but remodeled and finished in 1906 by Antoni Gaudi and Josep Maria Jujol.  Gaudi, who was born in 1852 and died in 1926, was a very creative and unconventional architect who fought through the initial ridicule and judgment of his peers to create his own special visions.

Casa Batllo, also called “The House of Bones” or Casa dels Ossos, makes use of sculpted stone and mosaic to create a totally unique exterior.

The roof is arched like the ridged fin of some strange fish or dinosaur, and one legend says that the turret and cross on top stand for Saint George’s sword – which of course he used to kill the dragon.

The roofline of Casa Batllo

The man who commissioned the building was a rich aristocrat named Josep Batlo.

As for the interior of the structure, Batllo himself lived in the building for a while – the first floor apartment is included in the tour.  Batllo and his family lived on the first and second floors of the building, and they rented out the upper floors to residential tenants.

It only costs 17.80 Euros per person to tour this historic structure.  That includes an audio guided tour and can observe the grandeur and charm of this true work of art.

Francis Bannerman was obviously a pretty rich guy.  After all, he had enough money to buy 90% of the Spanish-American War’s army surplus (the US side, at least).  And then, because his Manhattan surplus store didn’t have the storage space (and because his neighbors weren’t wild about having a whole lot of ammunition on the block, Bannerman had a enough money to buy an entire island to store his goods upon.  In 1900, that was a lot of money.  Today, it would be astronomical.

The island Bannerman bought was called Pollepel Island.  During New York’s settlement by the Dutch, the island was a source of great fear for the American Indians in the area, who believed that evil spirits inhabited it.  That made it a great hiding place for rival tribes and settlers who wanted to avoid skirmishes with the natives.

The name of the island when Bannerman bought it, Pollepel, comes from a legend about a Dutch settler woman named Polly Pell. There are varying versions of the legend, but since I have some editorial control I will only tell you my favorite version.   Polly Pell was in love with one man, but promised to a preacher who was much older than her.  The fiance took Polly ice-skating on the frozen surface of the Hudson River and as they skated the ice began to crack.  Polly’s true love, who was watching from the woods, rushed out to help Polly and her fiance and let them to this island in the Hudson River.  The preacher was so grateful for their rescue, and seeing the obvious love between Polly and her secret sweetheart, let Polly off the hook and married the two lovebirds right on the spot.

Very unlikely, but oh well.  It is all true.  Or it isn’t.  It is.  It’s true.  Partially, I’m sure.

Other reports say that The Flying Dutchman crashed on the island, while others claim that the Dutch believed that goblins lived on the island.  The island was also a key strategic point during the Revolutionary War, and George Washington had plans to build a prison on the island, though nobody knows if that ever panned out.  None of this deterred Bannerman from purchasing the island and building his arsenal/warehouse on it, as well as a private residence on the other end of the 6.5 acre rocky island.

Bannerman’s design was inspired by his Scottish heritage.  He wanted a castle fit for a weapons king, and his warehouse and arsenal was large indeed, with several smaller side buildings that contained shells and live ammunition.  The residence Bannerman built on the other side of the island was, of course, another castle, though smaller than the “warehouse” and missing the large sign that adorned the larger structure.  It read “Bannerman’s Island Arsenal,” and served as an advertisement for his business in the city.

Unfortunately, the structure loses a little more of itself every day.  Construction stopped when Bannerman died in 1918.  His family continued to live on the island, but in 1920 one of the smaller structures which was home to hundreds of pounds of live ammunition, exploded violently, injuring Mrs. Bannerman, vaulting a wall of the structure all the way over to the mainland, and taking out a piece of the largest castle in the process.

I’m not sure if the family continued to live on the island after that, but in 1950, the ferryboat that carried passengers to and from the island sank in a big storm, and by then the family definitely didn’t live there.  After the ferry sank, the warehouse and residence were deserted.  The state bought the island in 1967 (not sure how much they paid for it), and they started allowing tours to take place in 1968.  This only lasted a few months, because a raging fire erupted in August of 1969, burning up the roof and floors of the warehouse and blowing out the windows of the  residence on the other end of the island.  The island was pretty much condemned until very recently, when different tour groups started taking groups over in a very “enter at your own risk” sort of capacity.  Hard hats are required on all visits.

Hudson Valley Outfitters and Storm King Adventure Tours run kayak tours of the island, whereas the less kayak-y types can take a tour with Hudson River Adventures and the Bannerman Castle Trust.  They run by boat.

Senator Charles Schumer is trying to save the castle by seeking out funding under the Save America’s Treasures program and other means.  Additionally, the Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. accepts donations on their webpage, or you can send it to The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. at  P.O Box 843, Glenham, NY 12527-0843, call them at 845-831-6346, or email them at admin@bannermancastle.org.

It is a commonly held adage that a man’s house is his castle.  A forward-thinking individual in San Juan, Dominican Republic took this old saying to a whole new level.  With glistening white towers and graceful arched windows, it’s easy to imagine this abode nestled firmly in the midst of a Caribbean fairy tale.  That is, with one (or two) exceptions.  Number one – this fantastic structure rests ever so delicately atop what appears to be a plain old ranch style house.  Number two – the neighbors, while not apparently poverty stricken, would certainly lower the property value of such an auspicious dwelling, were it in fact a true castle.

The Dominican Republic, once home to Christopher Columbus, does boast some genuinely historical structures, including a number of famous cathedrals and churches, as well as a few notable fortifications (most of which came about as a result of repeated civil and revolutionary wars).   The National Palace in Santo Domingo and the Royal Buildings are some of the most visited sites in the nation, and are much more reminiscent of a real castle that the aforementioned residence.

The Castle House, as it is commonly referred to, is not without its charm.  Who hasn’t imagined living in a fancy castle, especially on an island paradise?  I sure have.  Throw up a few pennants, hang some banners and tapestries, and maybe invest in some guys to play the trumpet to announce my arrival, and I’ll be home sweet home.  Oh, and maybe look into some underpinning or something to cover up that pesky house hiding underneath the gleaming towers.  Castle skirt, anyone?

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A short train ride from Tokyo will take you to the city of Matsumoto, and to Matsumoto Castle.  One of Japan’s most stunning castles, Matsumoto Castle (also called Matsumotojo) was built during the Sengoku peroid – which is dubbed the Warring States period.  It was a time of conflict in Japan that stretched from the mid-15th century to the start of the 17th century.

During this time, guys called Daimyo lorded over their territories of Japan, and some of them lived in these types of castles, which were built into hills or on the edges of rivers to help fortify them and protect them.  Matsumoto Castle is special because it is built on a plain, although it is elevated and surrounded by a moat.

The history of the castle is long and complicated.  At first it was a fort called Fukashi Castle.  Built in 1504, it changed rulers in 1550 and the new rulers built onto Fukashi, adding multiple towers, the keep (which is a Japanese national treasure), and more.  The final product was finished around 1594.

The castle stood throughout the rest of the feudal period in Japan.  6 daimyo families ruled Matsumoto until the Mejii Restoration in the 1870′s.  The Mejii Restoration saw a lot of changes in Japan’s political structure and did away with the feudal style of governing.  At that time, Matsumoto Castle was auctioned off to the city government.

Eventually, the outer castle was demolished but the keep and many of the towers remain.  Kobayashi Unari, a high school principal in the late 1800′s, raised funds to renovate the ancient castle, and it was renovated between 1903 and 1913.  It was renovated further in the 1950′s, and again in 1990 and 1999.

Today the castle is open for tours and is home to many activities during the course of the year.  You can see the cherry blossoms in April, go to a Moon Viewing party in the autumn, or go to the drum festival in the summertime.

photo by ken2754@Yokohama