Thursday, June 14, 2012

My Town Shoot Out - Tourist Spot!

For fun, I will show you some photos of one of the town's principal tourist attractions, and you see whether you can guess where we are!





Have you guessed where we are yet?



To help you out, here is some information from the castle's website:

Chateau Laroche was built as an expression and reminder of the simple strength and rugged grandeur of the mighty men who lived when Knighthood was in flower.
It was their knightly zeal for honor, valor and manly purity that lifted mankind out of the moral midnight of the dark ages and started it towards the gray dawn of human hope.
Present human decadence proves a need for similar action.
Already the ancient organization of Knights have been re-activated to save society.
Any man of high ideas who wishes to help save civilization is invited to become a member of the Knights of the Golden Trail, whose only vows are the Ten Commandments.



Did you guess that the castle was in Loveland, Ohio on the banks of the Little Miami River? Of course you did! Because nothing says 'Ohio' like a castle!

Here is what Wiki says regarding the castle's origins: Château Laroche, also known as the Loveland Castle, is a museum on the banks of the Little Miami River in Loveland, Ohio, United States. A folly of a historical European castle, construction began in 1929 by Boy Scout troop leader Harry Andrews. He built the castle on two free plots of land that his scouts obtained by paying for one-year subscriptions to The Cincinnati Enquirer.[1] When Andrews died in 1981 he willed the castle to his Boy Scout troop the Knights of the Golden Trail (KOGT).[2][3] The Castle has been extensively upgraded and renovated in the years since Andrews death and has been mostly completed by the KOGT. The East tower now houses a short video presentation on Andrews' quest to finish his dream. The walls of the upstairs chapel feature many stones brought back by Andrews in his world travels and others sent to him from foreign locations by his friends and followers. Recently completed are an expansion to the outside gardens and a greenhouse.
Tales of the castle being haunted – often coming from Chateau Laroche's own volunteer knights – have been reported over the years.

I have prepared this post to participate in Friday My Town Shoot Out...a weekly photography meme! This week's theme was local tourist attractions! Clink the link to learn more!





19 comments:

  1. That's funny, two castles in the USA on the FMTSO link! Yours looks a little more impenetrable than mine!

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    1. I really was shocked when I saw yours too! Maybe these things are sprinkled all over the country!

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  2. That's a very beautiful castle!

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  3. A beautiful castle but not what I expected to find in Ohio. Unexpected finds are the best part of being a tourist!

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    1. I know what you mean...seems odd to me too!

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  4. I did not know of that place. Just a state above my Ky. Might make it there one day. Great photos. There is a modern day castle in Lexington, Kentucky. Used as a B&B.
    QMM

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    1. If you are ever around - let me know!!

      Apparently, people have built castles all over - Rebecca showed one this week too!

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  5. I wasn't aware of this...I can't help but think of all the work that went into building these things back in the day...Michelle

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    1. I was thinking the same thing as I walked around looking at it...moving all that rock!

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  6. beautiful castle: at first sight I thought it was in Europe....

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  7. Ha ha! You had me on that one. Great post.

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    1. Figured that not many people would guess the Midwest!

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  8. Thanks - I thought it was cool too! In a really hidden spot...

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  9. Wonderful photos, Libby. I would never have guessed the location!

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  10. I know that place! That is the historical castle in Ohio. The best thing about this place is the beautiful garden outside the castle. It has different colorful flowers and arches with vines. But the thing that makes this place worth visiting is the spectacular view – you have got to see it to believe it.

    *
    Daphne Michaels

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