25 March 2009: Culzean Castle

A castle is thought to have stood at Culzean since the 12th century.

An earlier castle was transformed in 1775, when the architect Robert Adam began substantial remodelling work for David Kennedy, the 10th Earl of Cassilis. Adam, who also worked on the castle's interiors, home farm and stables, incorporated parts of the older structure into a grand mansion which made dramatic use of its cliff top location. The spectacular oval staircase pictured here is regarded as one of Adam's finest achievements. The addition of a west wing in 1879 gave the castle its current form.

In November 1945, as a gesture of Scottish thanks for America's support during the Second World War, General Dwight D Eisenhower was invited by the Kennedy family to accept a lifetime tenancy of a specially created guest flat on the top floor of Culzean. Eisenhower first visited the castle in 1946, and stayed there several more times, including while he was President of the United States.

Culzean Castle in now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is open to the public.