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<< Our Photo Pages >> Pictavia - Museum in Scotland in Angus

Submitted by cosmic on Tuesday, 31 July 2007  Page Views: 14921

MuseumsSite Name: Pictavia
Country: Scotland County: Angus Type: Museum
Nearest Town: Brechin
Map Ref: NO578599
Latitude: 56.728843N  Longitude: 2.691267W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 Destroyed Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 3

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HaggisAction visited Pictavia is now closed down. Unknown where the stuff inside has been moved to.

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : Pictavia and Picts. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Pictavia was an interactive Visitor Centre which told the story of Scotland's ancient Pictish tribes, a warrior people who roamed Angus nearly two thousand years ago. The site is situated within the Brechin Castle complex just off the A90 by the southern exit for Brechin.

These 1st Millennium settlers in Angus left us a mysterious legacy of carved stones, bearing their iconic images of birds, beasts, warriors and symbols, which to this day watch over the landscape all around the county. Follow the Angus Pictish Trail for a fascinating tour of these important sites.

Pictavia was set in the beautiful countryside park at Brechin Castle Centre. Facilities included a restaurant, play area and retail outlet.

There are still many Pictish stones to explore in the area - see our site listings here

Note: Pictavia interactive Pictish Visitor Centre closed - we will keep this listing as a historical record
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Pictavia - Kirrriemuir 1
Pictavia - Kirrriemuir 1 submitted by cosmic : Replica of Kirrriemuir 1. Pictavia hosts several original Pictish stones and resin replicas of others. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Pictavia - Kirriemuir 5
Pictavia - Kirriemuir 5 submitted by cosmic : Back of replica of Kirriemuir 5 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Pictavia - Inchbrayock
Pictavia - Inchbrayock submitted by cosmic : Back of Inchbrayock replica. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Pictavia - Inchbrayock Stone
Pictavia - Inchbrayock Stone submitted by cosmic : Replica of Inchbrayock Stone found in 1849 at St. Brioch churchyard on Rossie Island at NO-710567. The original is in Montrose Museum. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Pictavia - Farnell stone
Pictavia - Farnell stone submitted by cosmic : Back of Farnell stone. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Pictavia - The Farnell Stone
Pictavia - The Farnell Stone submitted by cosmic : The Farnell stone - it is over six feet tall and was found in 1849 at NO627554. It was previously housed in Montrose Museum.

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : There is also some Pictish jewellery on display. Interactive computer screens allow you to explore the riddle of Pictish Stone symbols and locate all the ones in Angus whilst the Tower of Sound has audio mock-ups of Pictish music and instruments. For youngsters there is crayon rubbing of Pictish Symbols and the chance for some face painting.

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : Blacksmith at re-enacted Pictish encampment. The Glasgow Viking group enacted a skirmish between the Picts under their red boar banner with the Vikings and then gave displays of various different weapons from the time.

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : Picts v Vikings skirmish. The Glasgow Viking re-enactment group has been going over twenty-five years and has assembled lots of authentic equipment and clothing. As well as doing the battle displays they had a blacksmith and forge, a leatherworker and a quern on which they ground rye to make their own flat bread.

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : Quern in use at re-enacted Pictish camp

Pictavia
Pictavia submitted by cosmic : Re-created leatherwork from Pictish times

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.1km NE 48° Dubton Farm Iron Age settlement and Souterrain Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (NO58616062)
 1.2km SE 133° St Ouret's Well (Brechin) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NO58695904)
 1.6km E 82° Aldbar* Class III Pictish Cross Slab (NO594601)
 1.8km E 83° Brechin Cathedral* Sculptured Stone (NO596601)
 1.9km WNW 301° Killievair* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NO562609)
 3.1km SSE 168° St Murdoch's Well (Brechin) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NO58405682)
 4.4km ENE 69° Easter Pitforthie Stone Circle (NO619614)
 6.3km NW 315° Menmuir Pictish Cross Slab Class III Pictish Cross Slab (NO534644)
 6.3km NNE 28° Stracathro A Cursus Cursus (NO608655)
 6.5km NNE 26° Stracathro B Cursus Cursus (NO60746576)
 6.6km NNE 28° Stracathro A Cursus Cursus (NO610657)
 6.7km NNE 28° Stracathro B Cursus Cursus (NO60986584)
 6.9km SW 233° Aberlemno* Standing Stones (NO52245586)
 6.9km NNW 333° White Caterthun* Stone Fort or Dun (NO5474766057)
 7.3km NNW 342° Brown Caterthun* Stone Fort or Dun (NO5555366871)
 7.6km NW 311° Hill of Menmuir* Rock Art (NO52096489)
 8.3km SW 221° Doo'cot Woods (Turin Hill) Rock Art (NO5224953716)
 8.4km WSW 239° Finavon* Vitrified Fort (NO506556)
 8.4km SW 222° West Mains 1 & 2 (Turin Hill) Rock Art (NO52145369)
 8.5km NE 40° Capo, Aberdeenshire* Long Barrow (NO633664)
 8.7km ESE 108° Maryton Cursus Cursus (NO66105713)
 8.7km E 85° Dun cup marked stone* Rock Art (NO6654060523)
 8.8km SSW 207° Westerton (Aberlemno)* Stone Circle (NO53645210)
 9.0km SW 233° Carsegownie Cairn* Cairn (NO50565449)
 9.2km E 92° Gallows Knowe Round Barrow(s) (NO670595)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Pictavia" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
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Re: Pictavia by Anonymous on Monday, 22 June 2015
I believe that Pictavia is, unfortunately, closed as of 31 October 2014.
[ Reply to This ]
    AXED - Pictavia centre closed by Andy B on Monday, 22 June 2015
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Thanks - what a shame - status updated. Here are the details from the local paper:

    The axe has fallen on Brechin’s Pictavia visitor centre amidst claims that the attraction was doomed to failure from the start.

    Angus development and enterprise committee councillors voted to shut the centre after 15 years of dwindling visitor numbers, moving against delaying the decision to commission a further report looking at the possibility of pursuing a private-sector rescue package.

    One councillor described the past operation of Pictavia and the closure decision as “disgraceful”.

    Opened in 1999, Pictavia’s annual operating cost over the past four years has been some £37,000, offset by ticket income of £10,000 to leave the council with £27,000 net costs per year.

    Closure will result in savings of around £13,000 each year in the short term, rising to almost £30,000 a year when the building is disposed of.

    The VisitScotland visitor information service provided at Pictavia will transfer to Brechin Library from the beginning of November, and seven carved stones will be rehoused elsewhere in Angus.

    However, an 11th hour bid by Carnoustie councillor Bill Bowles to secure a stay of execution for the centre failed, against the background of the complication posed by the building being on land owned by the adjacent Brechin Castle garden centre.

    Mr Bowles said: “This is deeply saddening. Basically what has happened here is a lack of investment to keep it profitable, and it has fallen so far behind the curve that we have come to this.

    More at
    http://www.angusahead.com/info/20030/heritage_and_culture/67/the_picts
    [ Reply to This ]

Angus Heritage Week 2012 and free Doors Open Day at Pictavia by Andy B on Monday, 03 September 2012
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The Picts – Question and Answer Time Where did the Picts live? What did they eat? What were their religious beliefs? Why did they carve symbols into stones? 13 September 2012

A Day Out With the Picts A special chance to visit some of the most important sites of Pictish history in Angus – all in one day! 10 September 2012

Angus Heritage Week 2012 Angus is home to many heritage and cultural venues and a pilot Angus Heritage Week will take place this year, from the 7th - 14th September. 07 September 2012

Doors Open Day at Pictavia
Pictavia opens its doors for free on 8th and 9th September for visitors to come and hear the fascinating story about the Picts who roamed Angus a thousand years ago.

More at http://www.pictavia.org.uk/News-Events/News-Events.aspx
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Picts Alive at Pictavia! by VirtHist on Friday, 17 August 2007
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You're absolutely right, but I'm sure the centre wants to get as many visitors as possible and, unfortunately, the public are well aware of the name Picti and not the Cruithne.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Picts Alive at Pictavia! by Anonymous on Sunday, 05 August 2007
More accurate history PLEASE !! Since we already know "Picti" meant "painted (or Tatooed) People" Weren't most of the former Iron Age (Celtic) tribes using woad for "painting or tatooing"?? And weren't the main tribal group called the "Cruithne", or Coritani, Why than call them "Picts" ???
Since the academic community no longer wants the word "CELTIC" used, why not do away with this terminology as well.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Picts Alive at Pictavia! by Anonymous on Friday, 27 April 2012
    No mystery Pictavia look for origins in France,.. From France they settled in SW Britain then Ireland Isle of Man and Scotland. They worshiped three goddess Devonia or Debonia goddess of living water hence the name Devon there three chief cities were in Scotland outside of Dublin there is a plain anciently called the plain of Devon. Imona goddess of the sea gave her name to an ancient kingdom of Man and Anglesey Mona, both island to this day claim to be Mona.The main goddes was of course the goddess of the Moon wherever she was worshipped you will find any high waterfall called The White Lady.. Have a look at DNA I would be surprised if it does not connect with the Basque
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Picts Alive at Pictavia! by Andy B on Tuesday, 31 July 2007
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Thanks a lot for doing this Cosmic, I hope you enjoyed yourself. If you would like to 'cover' an event or open day like this for us then suggest it to our editor and we will see if we can get you some tickets.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Picts Alive at Pictavia! by VirtHist on Sunday, 29 July 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)
Hope to visit this one day. Love to hear what they have to say about this illusive people.
[ Reply to This ]

Picts Alive at Pictavia! by Andy B on Friday, 13 July 2007
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Picts Alive at Brechin!

A Pictish encampment at Pictavia Visitor Centre comes under attack this Summer when they are invaded by marauding Vikings on Saturday July 28th and Sunday July 29th! Visitors are invited to experience living history in the Pictish village, see the way our ancestors lived in these parts more than a thousand years ago, and cheer them on when the vicious Vikings attack. A programme of skirmishes, weapons demonstrations, and lots of friendly encounters is planned for both days. Find out what they're cooking over their open fire - watch the forge at work. On Sunday, additionally there will be a display of falconry by Elite Falconry.

Entry at Country Park admission prices includes free visit to Pictavia Visitor Centre, Pictish Face Painting and Art Attack, Dragons Lair play area with exciting new equipment, Miniature railway, lake and wetland area, and model farm with walks of up to 3km around the animal paddocks and through the farm steading and static display of vintage farm implements.

Full disabled access at this 4-star Visitor Centre, assisted access to the Country Park and with the Castle Centre's gift shop, garden centre, and excellent restaurant onsite - there will be something for everyone in the family to look forward to.

More details at http://www.pictavia.org.uk/events.cfm
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