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Belvoir Castle occupies a commanding position with breathtaking views across the Vale of Belvoir, the present Castle is the fourth to have stood on the site since Norman times. The existing Castle was completed in the early 19th century after previous buildings suffered complete or partial destruction.

Robert de Todeni came there in about 1070 and built the first castle. No proper picture of this castle survives, but it almost certainly had a large central square stone-built keep, with a surrounding stone wall. This first castle lasted for almost four hundred years, but in 1464 the castle was demolished in the vicious Wars of the Roses, and its then owner, Lord Ros, was executed for being a supporter of the Lancastrian faction. For the next sixty years only a ruin remained on the hill, and work to build the second castle was commenced in the reign of Henry VIII by the Manners family.

The second castle was also a heavily fortified medieval building, and stood for about one hundred and twenty years until the upheaval of the Civil War between Charles I and Parliament. Once the Civil War was over, the Earl of Rutland started rebuilding, creating a very fine mansion in the classical style on the castle site, an enormous house with four wings around a central rectangular courtyard.

This third castle survived for about one hundred and forty years. In 1799 the Fifth Duke of Rutland, then aged 21, married 20 year old Elizabeth Howard from Castle Howard in Yorkshire. She said that she would prefer to have a more traditional castle with towers, turrets and battlements, and so in the following thirty years the previous castle was rebuilt to the very fine Gothic Revival Castle that stands there today, complete with a great deal of fine Regency furniture, and a fabulous collection of fine art.

The present owner of Belvoir Castle is the Eleventh Duke of Rutland, who lives here with his young family. The Duke is the direct descendant of Robert de Todeni who built the first castle, the property having been inherited by the same family for almost a thousand years.

From the elegance of the Elizabeth Saloon and the majesty of the State Dining Room to the delights of the Regents Gallery and the military splendour of the Guard Room, Belvoir possesses one of the most stunning interiors of the period. Below the terrace of the Castle sloping lawns lead down to the Rose and Statue Gardens which are elegantly laid out round a central fountain. The Statue Collection terraced into the hillside includes work by Caius, Cibber - Sculptor to Charles II.

The Castle also contains a notable collection of furniture, porcelain, silks and tapestries, sculptures and paintings. There are examples of fine French furniture, Italian sculpture alongside paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Holbein and Poussin.

For more about Belvoir, do have a look at their Website.

Corporate Events and Weddings:

The Castle and surrounding parklands are available for a range of events ranging from an intimate dinner in the State Dining Room to a conference or marquee event in the park. In recent times the Castle and Park have been host to a broad range of diverse events and activities; dinners, receptions, presentations, conferences, auctions, product launches, filming (The Haunting and The Golden Bowl), Corporate days out, a motor rally and a Prom Concert to mention but a few.

The Castle is non-residential however there is an excellent selection of hotels in the immediate vicinity. For all events catering is carried out in-house.

The Castle is available for both civil and religious ceremonies. The Guard Room with high ceilings and open fires provides the location for the civil ceremonies, while the intimate Rutland family Chapel is host to Church of England ceremonies for those looking for a traditional church wedding.

The convenience and simplicity of having ceremony, reception and dinner in one stunning location are self evident. Guests move from the ceremony location to the reception and on to dinner without the inconvenience of travelling.

Opening Times - 2010:

Castle & Gardens:
Mothering Sunday - 14th March, 11 am - 5 pm
Easter 2nd - 5th April: Friday - Monday inclusive, 11 am - 5 pm
2nd - 3rd May: Monday & Sunday, Bank Holiday, 11 am - 5 pm
August: Sunday - Thursday, 11 am - 5 pm
Last entry at 4 pm

Gardens only:
14th March - 3rd October: Sunday - Thursday inclusive

Admission Prices - 2010:

Castle & Gardens
Adult - £10
Child (5-16 yrs) - £6
Seniors - £9
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) - £28

Groups:
Adult - £9
Child (5-16 yrs) - £5
Seniors - £8
School - £5

Grounds only:
Adult - £5
Seniors - £4
Child (5-16 yrs) - £3
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) - £15

Groups welcome by appointment

Groups Welcome (minimum 15 people)

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.