Balmoral

[Magistra]

After recently attending a wedding and spending a short holiday in the Braemar area, then passing by Balmoral on my way home, I would like to know more about the Castle and its origins.
I read somewhere that a group of people sold the original Balmoral Castle to Prince Albert. Does anyone know who they were? Any reading material to be recommended? Also how does Abergeldie (maybe wrong spelling, a Castle mentioned to me during my trip) figure in the Queen's life these days.
BTW I was hooked on the wonderful scenery and hope to visit Scotland again in a year or two.

[tig]

google it....youl find everthing you want to know

[Magistra]

Not everything I want to know is on Google. That is why I asked.
Does anyone recommend a good book to read about Balmoral its history and that of the surrounding lands.
I hoped there might be a member of this forum who knows the area well.

[simpler times]

Well, you could start with a book on Scottish history like the excellent tome by Magnus Magnusson, but you'd also find information in any good biography about Queen Victoria. She's the one who fell in love with Balmoral in 1842 and spent a great deal of time there after Albert's death. There was a nice (sappy) movie about that era called "Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown" (1997) with Judi Dench. There's a book available called, Our Highland Home: Victoria and Albert in Scotland by Jeanne Cannizzo. Explores Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's love affair with Scotland, discussing their early journeys there and their stays at Balmoral. But getting to the heart of things, you probably would love to explore the castle's website: History of Balmoral - Balmoral Castle and Estate.
Balmoral Castle and Estate, online shop, gift shop, holiday cottages, fishing, scotland

[Magistra]

Thanks for offering a book title. I will try to locate a copy.

[hiorta]

All this Queen stuff is just modern notions from a foreign culture.
Balmoral - the majestic town - is in the celtic culture whose ancient language is gaidhlig and to gain proper insight into this requires a knowledge of gaidhlig.
The town itself is visually spectacular set in superb surroundings - hence the attraction for foreigners.

[aNonnyMoose]

Which it's mostly inhabited by...