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Belvoir Castle, the ancestral residence of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland belongs to the time of the Normans. The term Belvoir in French means 'beautiful view'. The castle is located in the county of Leicestershire. Presently inhabited by the 11th Duke and Duchess of Rutland, the interior of Belvoir Castle in England is known for its breathtaking beauty. The aura of the State Dining Room, the grandeur of the Elizabeth Saloon and majestic appeal of the Guard Room are simply awe-inspiring.
The current castle, the fourth one to be built since the Norman period, was completed in the first half of the 19th century. The castle is home to some extraordinary works of art and feature paintings of Poussin, Reynolds, Holbein and Gainsborough. The Castle also possesses a rich collection of silk, Italian sculptures, exquisite furniture, tapestries, porcelain and French furniture.
Although Belvoir Castle is now a stately home, it was originally constructed as an authentic castle. Soon after the conquest by the Normans, the Belvoir Castle was constructed with a fortification wall made of timber and earth. It was Robert de Todeni, the Standard Bearer of William the Conqueror during the Battle of Hastings, who began the construction of Belvoir Castle.
Later on, the Castle passed on from the descendants of Robert to the de Ros family, who controlled the castle till 1464. With the execution of Thomas Lord Ros, the Belvoir Castle passed on to William, Lord Hastings. Soon after the ascendancy of Henry VII to Britain's throne, Belvoir Castle once again passed on to the de Ros family. Thereafter, the Castle came under the control of Sir Robert Manners. The first Earl of Rutland, Thomas Manners began the reconstruction of the castle in about 1523, which was finished after 32 years.
Since the middle of the 16th century till date, Belvoir Castle has remained under the ownership of the Rutlands. In the middle of the 1600s, Belvoir Castle was greatly affected by the English Civil War. But contruction of another Belvoir Castle was strated at the same location in the year 1654, which completed in 1668. However, this structure was also subjected to severe damages and the present edifice is a restructured model.
The Belvoir Castle in Britain can be visited at all times of the year. It is open from 11.00 hours to 17.00 hours on all days except Saturdays, when the closure time is 16.00 hours. However, the opening time remains same. There are beautiful gardens that surround the grand castle. There is a national garden scheme that becomes operative in the month of May. There are entry fees for entering these beautiful and well-maintained gardens. Concessions are also provided for the aged and physically challenged visitors. Guided tours are also conducted for the castle as well as for the gardens.
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