Pictavia

It came as a surprise to me that Brechin was home to such an excellent visitor attraction. Pictavia blends fascinating exhibits with friendly passionate (and very funny) staff in a state of the art museum attached to the Brechin Castle centre.

Opened in 1993 Pictavia tells the story of the Picts and their various encounters with Romans, Vikings and the Celts. It turns out that Angus is littered with impressive Pictish stones depicting various aspects of life from the 6^th century through to the 11^th.

The centre itself exhibits many of the stones and can tell you where to find the others. The stones themselves are exquisite considering they were carved more than 1000 years ago and there is something really special about being able to touch a stone that was carved by an ancestor so long ago.

Upon entering the museum you are invited to watch a video and light show which gives you background on the Picts and prepares you for what you will find in the main gallery. Once in the gallery you can look at the various stones and carvings or listen to the audio guides narrated by Brian Cox which will tell you lots about the way the Picts used to live.

There is plenty for the kids to get up to with many interactive exhibits including drums and other musical instruments, puzzles and stone rubbings.

The centre also has a well equipped educational centre and regular school trips and activities are arranged.

One of the best things about the Pictavia museum must be their summer programme of events which include re-enactments of life at the time. Pictavia is based at the Brechin Castle Centre surrounded by several acres of grassland allowing them to re-create epic battles, build villages and really give you a taste of what life must have been like in those days.

The programme for this year is still being finalised and we will post a link to it as soon as it becomes available.

Web - http://www.pictavia.org.uk/