Castle Howard

Castle Howard is a magnificent eighteenth century palace situated 15 miles North-East of the city of York (UK). It was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for the third Earl of Carlisle, Charles Howard, and contains a unique collection of famous pictures (by Holbein, Rubens, Reynolds, Gainsborough and others), furniture, tapestries and porcelain. Castle Howard is set in extensive grounds, which include lakes, a fountain, Vanbrugh's Temple of the Four Winds and the Mausoleum, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. The castle is still in the possession of the Howard family, and part of it is open to the public.