How come...

[Remyth]

I am not 100% sure why I like castle stuff so much, but it could come from a few different things.

1) Some of my ancestors where guards to the King of present-day Germany.

2) I learned about it in school and it kinda hooked me.

3) I don't know. Just reading books, hearing about it... whatever...

In Christ,

[Sir Kohran]

I noticed a couple of people referred to Britain and Ireland as inspiration - which is very true. There is quite a bit of history around here - I live just a few miles away from Bodiam Castle and as kids my friends and I would often have battles around there (when we didn't get caught there). Also, classical literature is a biggie - MacBeth, Le Morte d'Arthur, The Lord Of The Rings and The Iliad were all epics I read over the last decade or so. Films are there too - along with PJ's trilogy, Excalibur was a big favourite of mine, as well as Gladiator. All these influences just made me kind of naturally become a Middle Ages nutter (though I love all periods of history).

- Matt

[E of Alshire]

I used to be much more into space. I seem to remember switching to castle because it was much easier to regulate (nuh uh, my ship has sheilds!) when battling.

[Quickblade22]

I'm going to blame this one on the media Most Americans have European ancestery, so a lot of what Hollywood produced by predominatly European-Americans involed castles and medieval history/fiction. Plus we have a sick facination for history For me personally, when I was a kid I liked the shiny armor, and the whole hero saves the princess thing. Actually, I still like those things.

[Damien]

I think that's really an impossible question to answer. Watch:

"Why do you like cheeseburgers?"

People like what they like. I mean, so what if people in North America have no castles? We have no Elves either, and many North Americans love fantasy. It's just about what appeals to you.

So why do I have a love of European history and LEGO Castle? Well, just because I do.

[Aliencat]

I think that's really an impossible question to answer. Watch:

"Why do you like cheeseburgers?"

People like what they like. I mean, so what if people in North America have no castles? We have no Elves either, and many North Americans love fantasy. It's just about what appeals to you.

So why do I have a love of European history and LEGO Castle? Well, just because I do.

The question wasn't really "Why do you like it?", that would be an impossible question to answer for some people indeed.
The question was in fact "What got you into it?/What got you started on it?"

[Maedhros]

... that all the Americans here have such an interest in the European Middle Ages? As there is no sign of knights or any castles in your lands, how did you became a castle fan?

Well, I live in Sweden (and except a trip to the Eastern parts of Istanbul I've never been outside Europe ) but it's an interesting question anyway. And I for one can say that my interest in Castle has nothing whatsoever to do with me being a Swede (we don't even have that many castles here, but I know it's different in the UK). What got me into Castle (and playing Knights at all through my childhood) were mainly novels and movies about Robin Hood, Crusades etc, and of course fantasy with Tolkien being the most important influence.

Nowadays it's still more of a general interest for history that drives me but I have still never done anything with my own history (a diorama of Gustav Vasa beating up the Danes? ). When the Vikings finally came I even gave them warpaint and used them as Celts... So actually I don't think ancestry matters that much.....

[Damien]

The question was in fact "What got you into it?/What got you started on it?"

Quite right! In my sleep deprevation, I completely misread the question. Wow. See, I shouldn't post without sleeping first. Maybe it's time for a power nap.


On topic. .

I honestly don't remember. My earliest memories involve all things medieval. I was drawing swords and stick-figure knights before I knew what they really were, and I kept the "K" Encyclopedia in my bedroom so I could look at the 'Knight' entry all the time. I must have been. . 3 at that time? Maybe just hitting 4.

Medieval history has just been something I loved for as long as I can remember. I don't think anything in particular really 'got me into it.' Although I'm sure growing up with Thundercats and He-Man helped. Heroes with swords helps to foster that interest in medieval European history, I suppose.

[Jojo]

Hello!


...by the way, not all Europeans do have castles nearby. At least I don't. I have been in only two ruined castles in 30 years of living. And that’s while we have a ruine of a Saxon (as in ”Saxon“, not as in ”Anglosaxon“) refuge castle nearby, it’s part of the commune even. There’s not much to see, though (I only know that from pictures), only an old church survived. I really want to visit Wartburg Castle and Burg Eltz someday.

So my interest in Lego Castle was sparked by books mainly. My dad read to me German heroic sagas and the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. I should mention Astrid Lindgren’s ”Ronja rövardotter“ as well (Ronia the Robber's Daughter). That was enough to make me be in awe when Lego released the grey Castles in 1984.


Bye
Jojo

[psu_ericksen]

As long as I can remember, I've always been interested in castles. And all it took was for me to see on the shelf and I was hooked on LEGO castle.

I remember checking that out from my grade school library again and again.

So you're the one that had the book when it was unavailable for me to check out again and again! Actually, I think it was because of this book that I developed an interest in castles.


Sean

[wunztwice]

Maybe its because we don't have any castles of our own, so we have to build them from Lego?

Personally, I'm just into history. So I like all the historical themes. I've got most every set of all the historical themes (Ninja, Pirate, Adventurers, Wild West and Castle).

Steve

I'm definitely with Steve on this one. The lack of said castles has always been a key element in my fascination with the LEGO version.
I've also always just been a history geek. WWII and medieval periods primarily, both heavily European (I know, Pacific theatre...)
I still remember my 2nd grade teacher 'consulting' me on castle facts in class, I felt sooo cool.

Anyways, I do think a big part of it is the lack of castle-ness here in the US that is a big factor. They're romantic, and mysterious, and so forth, so those are my thoughts.

[Damien]

I still remember my 2nd grade teacher 'consulting' me on castle facts in class, I felt sooo cool.

Haha! Hey, that is cool.

I was made temporary teacher's assistant for medieval month in my own school. . 7th grade, as I recall.

[Bruce N H]

I have been in only two ruined castles in 30 years of living.

Really?!!?! If I was in your position I'd spend every spare weekend checking out whatever medieval architecture I could find. On my one trip to Europe after graduating from college, we flew into Frankfurt. Our first stop off the train was in Heidelburg, and there's a great set of ruins overlooking the town. Then it was on to Munich, where we took a side trip to Neuschwanstein (I know, not really built during the medieval period), and we then travelled down into Austria, with the great castle over Salzburg and then Vienna, with palaces and a couple of great churches.

So my interest in Lego Castle was sparked by books mainly. ... I should mention Astrid Lindgren’s ”Ronja rövardotter“ as well (Ronia the Robber's Daughter).

Did you ever see this MOC that I linked to last year?

Bruce

[Maedhros]

I have been in only two ruined castles in 30 years of living.

Really?!!?! If I was in your position I'd spend every spare weekend checking out whatever medieval architecture I could find.

Actually Europe isn't as full of medieval architecture as you Americans think

The only times I've seen a lot of it have been on my trips to Wales and Toledo (Spain). Of course there are castles, but they are quite far between (if you don't end up in Wales, Scotland or so)...

[The_Vanquished]

... that all the Americans here have such an interest in the European Middle Ages? As there is no sign of knights or any castles in your lands, how did you became a castle fan?

Gaetano

I think it was the lack of castles that got me interested. I was mistified at the thought of giant buildings made of stone, without any machines.