Restormel Castle

Restormel Castle is Cornwall's classic circular castle, a remarkably well-preserved example of a round shell keep standing amid picturesque countryside near Lostwithiel by the River Fowey. One of four chief Norman castles of Cornwall, this distinctive fortress features an unusually intact circular design and was built in the late thirteenth century as a luxurious residence and hunting establishment for the Earls and Dukes of Cornwall. The castle gained royal significance in the fourteenth century when the Black Prince, son of Edward III, visited twice. Its dramatic circular stone keep atop a mound and dried moat allow visitors to walk the ancient walls and explore the remains of buildings within, all maintained by English Heritage on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall.