I know this is supposed to be memes, but I couldn't help but feel the need to post this replace we ran across in our journey into the Scottish Highlands. At a place called Urquhart Castle, they have a good sized trebuchet set up with what it would've looked like when the castle was inhabited. Lots of history behind this castle, and unfortunately it's mostly ruinous now, but to set the stage of how they would push off would-be attackers, it was cool to see.
That place is awesome! I had the opportunity to visit a few years ago, and it was my first time getting to see one of these in person.
Naturally I had to annoy my wife by going on about how great it was to “finally meet my hero.”
I've never seen it in person, but I love this trebuchet! It was featured on an episode of NOVA in 2000. I used it as inspiration for a 20-ft treb that I built when I was 16. I made it out of 6x6 timbers and cast about 850 lbs of concrete for the counterweight. I even put it on wheels like they did. Good times.
Lovely castle (and trebuchet) went there a few years ago, you can even try to lift one of the rocks it used to chuck to the castle. Very fun