After several times being in Portsmouth and watching it from afar, I finally visited the castle. After ca. 1.5 hours walk from the hotel I've got there.
One thing I'd say, that the audio guide you get there is very nice. You're shown around the castle by two ghosts of castle former inhabitans, English constable and French prisoner. They add some colour to bare walls and occasional painting here and there and provide you some interersting and much necessary background. I've circled the castle inside and outside, to have a closer look at Roman walls and towers. Interesting, that Richard II's "palace" is smaller than many cottages I've seen walking to the castle from Port Solent…and he was accused of spending too much funds on it? I guess most of modern politicians would have problems with 13th century nobility public opinion ;)
Interesting that the castle didn't have moats/drawbridges/most of the "advanced" medieval counter-siege architecture…it is as simple as Norman/Roman stuff can be. 6m high Roman walls don't look that formidable now, but I guess Romans never planned that they will be attacked by more than barbarians/pirates.
Nice weather and nice place to be.
Starting point, castle is in the far right corner
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Main tower of Norman castle within Roman fort:
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Richard II palace (to the right) and constable building (front)
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Roman walls/towers, plus Norman corner tower of citadel
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Within citadel
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Citadel view from the fort's centre:
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Roman ballista tower and wall on the sea side:
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Final farewell…
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On a side note, while the castle looks better in summer with all these wines and flowers, this greenery is destroying it on par with wind and rain. Of course, if it was there for over 1.5 millenium, it will still be there in our lifetime, but there's absolutely nothing in regards of restoration…