Gorey Castle is one of the premier tourist attractions on the Channel Island of Jersey. It is a brute monolith of a medieval castle, set in an idyllic location above the golden sands of Royal Grouville Bay. The iconic image of Gorey Castle, with a thin line of seaside cottages at its base, has featured on countless postcards and Jersey stamps over the years.
You can discover the full story of the Castle, including a photo library, at http://poisedforgreatness.typepad.com/gorey-castle/. The castle is known as Mont Orgueil,or “Mount Pride” in French, since Norman French,or Jerriais, was of course the island’s language until the early twentieth century. Gorey Castle served as a symbol of English royal power and dominance for centuries and the most famous Governor to have ruled there was the legendary Renaissance explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh. Bloody medieval battles took place here, the writer William Prynne was imprisoned here, and in the nineteenth century Queen Victoria toured the ramparts and was duly amused. Finally, in the 1940-1945 Nazi occupation, the Castle served as a German military stronghold.
Gorey Castle is a labyrinth of spiral staircases, dark corridors and splendid turrets and you can easily spend an afternoon here. The spectacular views across to the French coast, which is only 14 miles away, are simply stunning. The Castle is located on the east coast of the Island, just a couple of miles north east from the capital St.Helier, at Gorey, St. Martin JE3 6ET. In 2009, adult admission is £9.50, children and students £6.50, and children under six go free. There are sometimes special displays, including medieval falconry. Gorey Castle is a unique experience of time travel back to the medieval world, and it is abundantly clear why it remains one of Jersey’s finest tourist destinations.
