This beautiful romantic castle is perched on a steep cliff overlooking a peaceful valley in Transylvania (part of modern-day Romania). It was first built in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights who were providing military protection for the area that then belonged to Hungary. Bran has seen many owners, including Queen Maria of Romania, and now is owned by her descendants, members of the Habsburg family.
It is commonly believed that Bran Castle is the very place where Count Dracula, described by Bram Stoker in his Gothic horror story, resided. Vlad III Dracula ("Dracula" meaning a knight of the Order of the Dragon), known as Vlad the Impaler, was a real figure and became notorious for his cruelty. Bran Castle welcomes countless visitors who seek to be thrilled by setting foot in the home of a blood-thirsty vampire – a true Vampire State Building of Romania. 

We added this lead-free pewter model to our shops on Etsy and eBay.  Check it out!

​The Donjon de Niort is located in the centre of the town of Niort in France. Now it consists of only two towers and the roofed building between them, which is what's left of the huge castle started by Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century and completed by his son Richard the Lionheart.
​
Our model shows the Donjon as of the beginning of the 19th century, with the nonexistent today drawbridge gate.

This miniature model of Castell Coch will make a perfect gift for any occasion and a great conversation piece: Check it out on Etsy or eBay.

CASTELL COCH

Castell Coch (Welsh for Red Castle) is a very interesting example of a medieval castle restored in a fantasy style of Gothic Revival in 19th century. One of Britain's wealthiest men, John Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, inherited the ruins of a medieval castle, located in South Wales, in 1848. He was interested in architecture and antiquarian studies and employed the architect William Burges to reconstruct the castle. The work was finished in 1891. Castell Coch is stylistically positioned somewhere between sturdy British and romantic German castles. On the one hand, it has Romanesque traits, but on the other hand, it reflects the way 19th century artists imagined a medieval castle. The historian David McLees described it as "one of the greatest Victorian triumphs of architectural composition."
This miniature model of Castell Coch will make a perfect gift for any occasion and a great conversation piece: Check it out on Etsy or eBay. 

LICHTENSTEIN CASTLE

NEW ARCHIMINIMA REPLICA - THE BODIAM CASTLE

​Dear friends,

We are happy to announce the release of our new pewter replica. This time, it is the rational and mature English Bodiam castle.

​The Bodiam castle "represents the popular ideal of a medieval castle", according to a historian Charles Coulson. Our replica shows Bodiam (originally Bodyham) as it was built in 1385 by sir Edward Dalyngrigge. Sir Edward was a younger son in a noble family and made a fortune as a mercenary in France during the Hundred Years’ War. He built Bodiam in his manor near the south-east coast of Britain to defend the area against French invasions.

The mighty castle is surrounded by a wide moat. Bodiam's rational quadrangular plan and the absence of the keep are characteristic of the XIV century's castle architecture. Wide windows, placed even in the outer walls, show that Bodiam was built not only as a strong fortress but as a wonderful place to live in, too.

After the English Civil War the castle gradually declined and turned into a picturesque ruin. In 1828 Bodiam was bought by a philanthropist John "Mad Jack" Fuller to save it from destruction. Conservation work at the castle began in the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century, started by Bodiam owners:  George Cubitt, Baron Ashcombe, and then George Curzon, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, Viceroy of India, and is continuing to this day. In 1925 Bodiam was donated by Lord Curzon on his death to The National Trust. The castle is protected as a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Monument and is open to the public.

This castle replica is made of lead-free pewter. We will be glad to see you at our shops on Etsy (scale 1:1000 and 1:2000) and eBay (scale 1:1000 and 1:2000).

NEUSCHWANSTEIN

We continue our Archiminima Replica series and come back to you with a model of the charming and romantic Neuschwanstein castle.

Its story is beautiful and mysterious. Once upon a time, there was a little prince in the land of Bavaria. His name was Ludwig, and he lived in a castle (Hohenschwangau) ­­– just like a fairy-tale prince should. As a child, Ludwig was living in his own world of fantasies and medieval legends. When he grew up and became king Ludwig the Second in 1865, he began building amazing extravagant castles. The most famous of them was the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein, inspired by the works of Ludwig's favourite composer Richard Wagner. Ludwig was obsessed with his creative ambitions, forgetting about the duty to rule the country. People were nevertheless fond of their 'mad' king, unlike many in the government. In 1886 he was declared mad, forced to resign, and then died under mysterious circumstances. Today Neuschwanstein reminds us of this extraordinary and romantic man, and this replica is a perfect visual clue to entertain your guests.

As usual, you can find this replica in our little shops:

• on Etsy click HERE;
• on eBay click HERE.

 
Please visit the Coming Up section of our website to see what else is coming soon at http://www.archiminima.com/coming-up.html.

THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

This is one of the finest examples of Norman military architecture in England. The castle keep was constructed at the place of the Roman fort of Pons Aelius and a wooden castle built in 1080 by the son of William the Conqueror, Robert Curthose. On the order of King Henry II in 1168–1178 Maurice the Engineer (creator of the Dover Castle, among others) built the new stone castle including the existing rectangular keep, one of the last of this kind. The castle was a royal residence. It served as a base for the Sheriff of Northumberland, the King’s representative in the area, and became a major border stronghold during the medieval wars between England and Scotland.
 
Now the castle keep is a Grade 1 listed building, a Scheduled Ancient monument, and is open to the public as a heritage visitor attraction. Owned by Newcastle City Council, it is leased to and managed by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, the second oldest antiquarian society in the world.
 
We have made the replica in two sizes, 1:1000 and 1:2000 (the latter also has a necklace charm variant). More pics here: http://www.archiminima.com/kovina--metal.html.

​As usual, you can find all of these replicas in our little shops on Etsy and eBay.
 
Please visit the Coming Up section of our website to see what else is coming soon at http://www.archiminima.com/coming-up.html.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a long time we haven't posted anything new for you, but we will make up for this in 2018! Just a little more patience, and you will see our all-new collection of teeny-tiny metal castles. We wish you all a very happy new year, full of joy and exciting discoveries! 

GIANT'S HUT

The replica is available at our little shop on Etsy and eBay.