Drumlanrig Castle
Encyclopedia
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
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The Castle is the Dumfriesshire family home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. It is also home to part of the internationally renowned Buccleuch Art Collection featuring Rembrandt’s An Old Woman Reading and Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
's Madonna of the Yarnwinder
Madonna of the Yarnwinder
The Madonna of the Yarnwinder is the subject of several oil paintings, but the original version by Leonardo da Vinci may now be lost. The composition shows Virgin Mary with the Christ child, who looks longingly at a yarnwinder used to collect spun yarn...
which was stolen in 2003 and returned in 2007 after being found in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
as well as many other paintings, tapestries and objects of art. Reception rooms,staircases and ornate period features sit beside parlours and the Stableyard, now housing the Stable yard Studios and Stable yard Cafe.
The 'Pink Palace' of Drumlanrig, constructed from distinctive pink sandstone, is one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture in Scotland. The first Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas, had the Castle built on the site of an ancient Douglas stronghold overlooking Nith Valley.
Surrounding the castle are gardens and a team of rangers based at the castle are on hand to offer educational walks and Land Rover tours to help visitors make the most of their surroundings.
The Estate is also home to an array of mountain bike trails to suit all levels.