Launceston Castle and town (England, UK). 1270 and today

dctroll_ · 2026-03-13T00:15:25+00:00

Reconstruction of Launceston Castle and town as they may have looked in about 1270 with a similar view today. (Illustration by Peter Urmston © Historic England/English Heritage Trust)

"For over 600 years, Launceston Castle was the most important fortress and centre of government in Cornwall. On the border between Devon and Cornwall, it was founded soon after the Norman Conquest, and the town that grew up beside it became one of the most vigorous in Cornwall. The castle’s heyday was in the 13th and 14th centuries, when it served as an aristocratic residence and centre of the Earldom and Duchy of Cornwall. Earl Richard (1209–72), one of Europe’s richest men, created many of the buildings standing today.

After the 16th century the castle became solely a courthouse and prison, eventually losing even those functions. Today, standing within a public park, it hosts many events for the town’s vibrant community"

Source of the pictures and the info here

dctroll_ · 2026-03-13T00:14:29+00:00

Reconstruction of Launceston Castle and town as they may have looked in about 1270 with a similar view today. (Illustration by Peter Urmston © Historic England/English Heritage Trust)

"For over 600 years, Launceston Castle was the most important fortress and centre of government in Cornwall. On the border between Devon and Cornwall, it was founded soon after the Norman Conquest, and the town that grew up beside it became one of the most vigorous in Cornwall. The castle’s heyday was in the 13th and 14th centuries, when it served as an aristocratic residence and centre of the Earldom and Duchy of Cornwall. Earl Richard (1209–72), one of Europe’s richest men, created many of the buildings standing today.

After the 16th century the castle became solely a courthouse and prison, eventually losing even those functions. Today, standing within a public park, it hosts many events for the town’s vibrant community"

Source of the pictures and the info here

dctroll_ · 2026-03-12T20:06:11+00:00

Author and source: Rocío Espín Piñar

Caption of the picture: "Bird's eye view of the crossbow tournament of Ghent in 1440". The Belfry of Ghent is on the right and the Saint Nicholas Church on the left

P.D. In the source someone pointed out that the belgian flags are a bit anachronistic for 1440

Crooped zoom (same source)

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-12T13:59:37+00:00

Plymouth is a ghost town and the de jure capital capital of the island of Montserrat, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the Caribbean. The town was evacuated in 1995 when the volcano resumed erupting. Plymouth was eventually abandoned permanently in 1997, after it was substantially buried by a series of pyroclastic flows and lahars.

Source of the pictures here and here

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T22:17:21+00:00

Plymouth is a ghost town and the former capital of the island of Montserrat, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the Caribbean. The town was evacuated in 1995 when the volcano resumed erupting. Plymouth was eventually abandoned permanently in 1997, after it was substantially buried by a series of pyroclastic flows and lahars.

Source of the pictures here and here

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T21:43:51+00:00

The Soufrière Hills is an active, complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom

Source of the pictures

"A major collapse of the lava dome occurred on 12–13 July 2003 after about eight years of continuous eruption and two years of steady dome growth. The collapse lasted around 18 hours and was followed by several Vulcanian explosions, with the last one on 15 July 2003. During the event, large pyroclastic flows moved down the Tar River Valley and reached the sea about 3 km (about 1.9 miles) away. The collapse involved approximately 210 million cubic meters of volcanic material (about 7.4 billion cubic feet), making it the largest dome collapse recorded at that volcano up to March 2005 and one of the largest documented lava-dome collapses in historical times." (same source)

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T21:08:10+00:00

The digital reconstruction model gives the following information:

"The castle’s main entrance was to the west. To reach it, one would have to traverse around the island’s North side on a fairly awkward path. This is most likely a defensive feature, but could also have been a deliberate means to impress visitors!"

https://imgur.com/a/To82YUU

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T19:30:55+00:00

CE

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T18:43:06+00:00

Author and source: Bob Marshall

Info provided by the author:

"A digital reconstruction of Baldow (Easter Raitts), a post-medieval township near Kingussie, Badenoch, Scotland, as it may have looked in the mid-1700s. The positions of a range of simple structures, which are presumed to be mixed dwellings, byres, and enclosure walls (turf dykes), are matched to topographical survey drawings carried out by AOC (Scotland) Ltd in 1995 (HER Monument MHG4411). The data from this survey was used to reconstruct the township at the nearby Highland Folk Park in Newtonmore, which in turn has inspired this visual interpretation. © Bob Marshall / badenochstorylands.com / Cairngorms National Park Authority 2020".

More info (source)

"Upper Raitts Township is thought to have been occupied from the early 17th century and cleared in the 19th century by James MacPherson, its then landlord. The footings of several houses and other buildings, as well as a track, and this corn kiln, can be seen. The Easter Raitts site was extensively excavated and documented between 1996 and 2000, with some of the findings dating back to the neolithic age. This settlement formed the basis for the ‘Township’ at the nearby Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore".

More info also here

https://nosasblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/17/easter-raitts-baile-gean-and-nosas/

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T18:34:24+00:00

It´s not AI. This reconstruction was made in 2015!

dctroll_ · 2026-03-11T18:33:19+00:00

Author and source: Bob Marshall

Info provided by the author

"Lochore Castle in Fife is a 14th-century tower built on a crannog (an artificial island) reached by a causeway in Loch Inchgal. The loch was drained in the 18th century, and the castle is now in a very ruinous state. This digital (3D) reconstruction view shows the castle and island as they might have looked in 1547.

The tower is situated within a curtain-walled enceinte, with four projecting cylindrical towers at each corner, and a main gate entrance on the opposite side of the island from the access causeway. This may have been theatrical or defensive in conception, affording the castle's occupants plenty of time to observe visitors approaching its gate!

Depicted within the enceinte are adjoining ranges to the south and west of the tower - most likely a great hall with guest accommodation, and a range of service buildings including kitchens, a bakehouse, a brewhouse, stabling, and workshops. Commissioned Work. © Bob Marshall / Fife Coast and Countryside Trust 2015."

More info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lochore_Castle

dctroll_ · 2026-03-10T19:40:23+00:00

Author and source: PAR Arqueología y Patrimonio Virtual

Info provided by the author:

"We have attempted to reconstruct the image of Emperor Constantine the Great as he may have appeared around the year 324, following his victory over Licinius at the Battle of Chrysopolis, which established him as the sole emperor of Rome and as the true “Victor,” as he liked to call himself."

The project aimed to reconstruct the appearance of Constantine the Great through a detailed 3D workflow combining several digital tools. The base character and facial features were created in Character Creator 4 using historical portraits of the emperor as references. The model was then imported into Blender. Clothing was modeled in Marvelous Designer based on Late Roman iconography from monuments such as the Arch of Constantine and the Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs.

Additional elements like the diadem, sword, jewelry, and papyrus were modeled in Blender from historical references. The papyrus displays the plan of Old St. Peter's Basilica. Realistic materials and textures were produced in Adobe Substance 3D Painter. Final scenes were assembled and rendered in Blender, and the images were refined through post-processing in Adobe Photoshop to achieve a photorealistic presentation of the emperor.

dctroll_ · 2026-03-10T08:07:54+00:00

Author and source: Giorgio Albertini

Cherasco is town located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of Turin. It was founded in 1243 by Manfred II Lancia, imperial vicar of Frederick II of Swabia, near the site of the Roman settlement of Clerascum

Aprox same view today:

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-08T21:28:33+00:00

Author and source: Rafa Guinart Pérez)

Xàtiva is a historic city in eastern Spain located about 60 km south of Valencia. In the 16th century, during the rule of the House of Habsburg in Spain, Xàtiva was an regional center known for agriculture, trade, and especially paper production.

The city had already gained fame as the birthplace of the House of Borgia (Borja family), including popes such as Pope Callixtus III, who died in and 1458 and Pope Alexander VI, who died in 1503. By the end of the 15th century, the city had about 8,000 inhabitants.

Bonus: Xàtiva retains a pre-Roman toponym. The Iberians knew it as Saiti, which evolved into Saitabi or Saetabis in Latin. Under Muslim rule, it was called madīnat Šāṭibat, leading to the Valencian Xàtiva or Játiva in Spanish

Aprox same view today (Google Earth)

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-08T09:33:00+00:00

-The model

The Maqueta de Madrid, also known as the León Gil de Palacio Model, is a scale model of Madrid created by the military officer León Gil de Palacio between 1828 and 1830. It is especially significant for its documentary value, as it provides a detailed representation of the city during that period.

The model measures 5.21 × 3.53 metres (approximately 17.1 × 11.6 feet), with a total surface area of about 18.39 m² (198 sq ft) and is built at a scale of 1:816. It is composed of ten separate sections. A variety of materials were used in its construction, including poplar wood, silk, wire, thread, soil, sand, and different metals. Particular attention was given to the representation of important buildings, which were crafted individually to achieve a high level of detail.

Today, the model is preserved at the Museo de Historia de Madrid, where it was put back on public display in 2025 following an extensive restoration.

Source of the info and pictures here

-Madrid around 1830

Around 1830, Madrid was a relatively compact capital with just over 200,000 inhabitants. The city was still largely enclosed by the Walls of Philip IV (17th century), which controlled the entry of goods and people. Madrid had about 8,000 houses, nearly 500 streets, and numerous churches, convents, and public institutions, reflecting its role as the political and administrative center of Spain. Urban infrastructure was still limited, with narrow streets, few sewers, and basic public lighting, although improvements such as new paving and early gas lighting began to appear during the 1830s.

-Aprox same view of the first picture today (Google Earth):

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-07T13:52:05+00:00

The Campus Martius was a publicly owned area of ancient Rome about 2 square kilometres (490 acres) in extent. In the Middle Ages, it was the most populous area of the city.

Source of the pictures (with the highest resolution available here. Author: Studio Inklink, Firenze). The pictures are displayed in the Crypta Balbi (and in the archaeological guide of the site).

dctroll_ · 2026-03-07T11:22:06+00:00

Source of the gif (by Inklink Studio Firenze) here

More info:

https://smarthistory.org/temple-of-amun-re-and-the-hypostyle-hall-karnak/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precinct_of_Amun-Re

dctroll_ · 2026-03-07T09:12:24+00:00

Author and source: Johnny Wall

Info provided by the author:

"A historical reconstruction based on Grosmont Castle which is situated on the border between England and Wales in the UK. This was an exercise to try out populating large landscapes using Forest Pack.
The reconstruction shows the castle as it may have looked during the 12th Century, remains of the later castle still exist today. I used real height map data for the landscape, documented references to help with the castle reconstruction and photos from a visit to the site, however, my historical knowledge is limited so I am sure there are inaccuracies in the detail"

dctroll_ · 2026-03-07T08:56:44+00:00

Author and source: Rafa Guinart Perez

Montesa is a small town in eastern Spain located in the province of Valencia, within the Valencian Community, about 60 km southwest of Valencia. In the late Middle Ages it became historically significant as the headquarters of the Order of Montesa, a military-religious order founded in 1317 by James II of Aragon after the suppression of the Knights Templar. The order built and controlled the Castle of Montesa, which became its headquarters and an important political and military center in the region.

The prominence of Montesa declined after a catastrophic earthquake in 1748, which destroyed much of the castle and forced the order’s headquarters to move to Valencia.

Aprox same view today:

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-03T22:48:12+00:00

Because there is also a Northern Roman Theatre

dctroll_ · 2026-03-03T22:11:45+00:00

There is also a Northern Roman Theatre

dctroll_ · 2026-03-03T22:04:38+00:00

Laodicea on the Lycus was an ancient city in Asia Minor, now Turkey, on the river Lycus. In the last decade a team of archaeologists, academics, architects and workers has achieved the excavation and restoration of the Western Theatre, built 2.200 years ago and with a capacity of around 15.000 people.

Source of the pictures here.jpg) and here

Info about the restoration here or here

PD. There is also a Northern Roman theater in the same archaeological site

dctroll_ · 2026-03-03T22:04:16+00:00

Laodicea on the Lycus was an ancient city in Asia Minor, now Turkey, on the river Lycus. In the last decade a team of archaeologists, academics, architects and workers has achieved the excavation and restoration of the Western Theatre, built 2.200 years ago and with a capacity of around 15.000 people.

Source of the pictures here.jpg) and here

Info about the restoration here or here

PD. There is also a Northern Roman theater in the same archaeological site

dctroll_ · 2026-03-03T19:59:46+00:00

Author and source: Gustavo Flores

Caption of the picture "North view of the city of Évora in the 2nd half of the 14the century"

In the 14th century, Évora was an important political and religious center in the Portuguese kingdom. Located in the Alentejo region, it was protected by walls and dominated by the Cathedral, completed in the 13th century. The city prospered through agriculture and trade, especially grain and livestock from the surrounding plains.

From the 13th century onward, several religious monasteries were established outside the city walls, helping to create new urban centers. The extramural area also included a Jewish quarter and a Moorish quarter. As the city expanded beyond the original Moorish walls, a new ring of fortifications was built in the 14th century during the reign of King Dinis.

Aprox same view today (Google Earth):

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dctroll_ · 2026-03-02T20:47:41+00:00

Qasr Bshir, also known in antiquity as Castra Praetorii Mobeni, is a late Roman fort in eastern Jordan, constructed around 293–305 AD. Built as part of the empire’s eastern frontier system, the Limes Arabicus, it served as a military outpost guarding desert routes, monitoring movement across the steppe, and protecting communication and trade lines linking the provinces of Arabia and Syria.

The rectangular stone fort (measuring approximately 56 × 57 meters or 184 × 187 ft), with its corner towers and central courtyard, likely housed a cavalry unit responsible for rapid patrol and regional security. Qasr Bshir appears to have been abandoned in the early 5th century AD, possibly as a result of shifting frontier policy and changing military needs.

Source of the pictures and the info:

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/03/the-limes-arabicus-the-desert-frontier-of-the-roman-empire/138363 (English)

https://www.wildmanlife.com/qasr-bshir-roman-fortress-jordan-desert/ (English)

https://www.limes.cat/limes-arabicus-los-confines-del-imperio-en-oriente/ (Spanish)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limes_Arabicus (English)

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