Seeking the Holy Grail. Part 1: Doune Castle
I’ve started writing articles about the Arthurian myth and the Holy Grail. In my last blog post, I showed you a secret I found on the Lancelot du Lac movie. Now I take you on a journey with me to find the Holy Grail. Let’s start with Doune castle located in Scotland.
Doune castle is a medieval stronghold originally built in the thirteenth century and became a royal retreat in the fifteenth. Some great people like Margaret Tudor and even Bonnie Prince Charlie have set their foot into the castle…
…But neither Arthur nor the Grail were there.
I guess you wonder why I’m writing about this castle and the answer is simple. Doune castle was used to film parts of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. So it’s a place of pilgrimage for Monty Python fans from all over the world making him one of the most pleasant castle to visit in Scotland especially because Terry Jones himself is the narrator of the audio guide.
Here is a short list of the movie scenes filmed in Doune Castle.
Guy de Loimbard’s castle
This castle wall served as a meeting place with the french taunter where they laugh at Arthur and make him believe that they have already the Holy Grail. Then they throw animals over the wall. A very funny scene which gave a very cult replica :
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
Swamp Castle
Also, the courtyard and some rooms served in the bloody mayhem of Lancelot when he kills everybody to rescue a damsel young boy in distress.
Camelot
Every windows and corners of the great hall were used for the Knights Of The Round Table song scene.
No, on second thoughts, let’s not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour. Follow the blog to learn more about the Holy Grail.