Scottish Castles - Spynie

Scottish Castles - Spynie Castle

Spynie Castle is a medieval castle located to the northeast of the town of Elgin in Scotland. The castle was an important seat of the Bishops of Moray and was known for its defence against enemy attacks.

The history of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when the first Bishop of Moray built a wooden stronghold on Spynie Hill. In the 13th century the castle was expanded and surrounded by a defensive wall with towers. In the 14th century the castle became one of the most important ecclesiastical centres in Scotland, and the Bishops of Moray played a significant role in the country's political life.

In the 17th century the castle was abandoned by the Bishops of Moray and fell into ruin. In the 19th century the castle was rediscovered and partially restored. Today Spynie Castle is one of Scotland's most important historical monuments and attracts visitors from around the world.

Spynie Castle is considered one of the best-preserved castle ruins in Scotland. Over the centuries it has witnessed many important events in Scotland's history and today stands as an important cultural and historical site.

The first castle was a timber building, constructed at the end of the 12th century and revealed during excavations carried out in 1986–1994. The excavated evidence suggests that the buildings were surrounded by a rectangular ring and a ditch, which appear to enclose an area roughly the same as the 14th-century curtain wall. The buildings probably consisted of the bishop's house with a hall, a sleeping chamber and a chapel, as well as housing a brewhouse and a bakehouse.