By the 19th century it had become a popular attraction for visitors. The French writer Henri-François-Alphonse Esquiros, who wrote about a visit to the castle in 1865, described the ruins as forming "what the English call a romantic scene." He noted that the ivy-covered ruins attracted visitors from the environs who went there "for picnics and parties of pleasure". In 1846 the British royal family visited the castle; arriving on their yacht the "Victoria and Albert" up the River Fowey, the royal party toured the ruins.