England Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle, England: history of the castle, photos, how to get there from London

Naturally, in the most beautiful and huge castle. In England this is Windsor castle By the way, it is rightfully considered the most beautiful castle in the whole world.

This castle was founded back in 1066, and since then it has been rebuilt and reconstructed more than once. The last reconstruction was carried out in the 1820s. The name of the castle comes from the area, it is located in the city of Windsor, which means “winding shores”.

She spends a huge amount of time here, as a rule, she lives here twice a year, in June and April. The rest of the time she lives in , but regularly comes to Windsor with her family for short periods of time.

Externally, the castle amazes with its majesty: on one side it is surrounded by luxurious green spaces, on the other side by a perfectly smooth lawn, marble paths and statues of horsemen. Therefore, while admiring the castle itself, you should not forget about its luxurious gardens. The walls of the castle are made of ancient stone and marble, which have not lost any of their nobility over the many years of the existence of this castle.

IN Windsor Castle The Round Tower, which historically served as a fortress, is especially famous. She was attacked many times, but she successfully withstood the onslaught of enemies. Now its purpose has changed a little: in this tower hangs the Sevastopol bell, cast, by the way, in Moscow back in the 18th century. It is absolutely invisible from the street, and people only call it when exceptional case- on the day of the death of the British monarch.

In general, the castle includes three main parts: upper, lower and middle courtyards. The royal chambers are located in the Upper Courtyard of the castle; tourists, of course, are not allowed there. But access to the state chambers is open to tourists if the castle is on this moment there are no inhabitants. Entering there, for a moment you are simply amazed by all this luxury - antique furniture, original paintings, precious metals everywhere.

But in the lower courtyard you should definitely look at the Chapel of St. George - many English kings are buried in this place, so the place is considered sacred. The castle is guarded by a British guard of honor, whose shift is watched daily by crowds of tourists.

Like any castle, Windsor castle famous for its legends. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of Herne, a Saxon hunter who died bravely defending his king, Richard the Second. Since then, he has been quietly wandering around the castle and guarding the current queen. But in one of the bedrooms of the castle you can see the ghost of Sir George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham. Many claim to have seen ghosts of soldiers from different times in the castle. Whether this is true or not is unknown, but tourists are increasingly saying that they have seen a ghost with their own eyes.

Windsor Castle contains many mysteries and memorable historical moments; it can convey the entire atmosphere of the past centuries of Great Britain. Therefore, it is definitely worth adding to your list of places to visit.

Address: UK, Windsor
Date of construction: around 1070
Architect: Hugh May
Coordinates: 51°29"02.0"N 0°36"16.0"W

In the county of Berkshire, which is known to every resident of Foggy Albion, stands the most beautiful castle in England. Moreover, according to many studies sociological surveys, it is also the most beautiful castle in the whole world.

Bird's eye view of the castle

There is nothing surprising in this, because in it currently The Queen of Great Britain and her family live. Naturally, the former power of the English monarchs has long since sunk into the past, but the queen, princes and their wives even today live in unspeakable luxury. The thing is that the family of monarchs, even in the 21st century, is considered a symbol of Foggy Albion.

For those who are not familiar with the political structure of Great Britain, it is worth clarifying that all power in the country is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister and Parliament. However, the Queen's presence at all ceremonial events and many official receptions is considered mandatory. It is for this reason that monarchs still live in the most beautiful castle in the world and enjoy a huge number of privileges. It may not be entirely appropriate to draw a parallel between members of the royal family and the heraldic symbols of the country, but it is precisely this comparison that most fully reflects the constitutional-parliamentary monarchical system in England. According to the most authoritative politicians, this model of governing the country is the most effective and, at the same time, allows Great Britain to demonstrate its luxury and wealth to all countries of the world.

View of the castle from Long Walk

Luxury and wealth - these are the two definitions that best characterize Windsor Castle and the luxurious park adjacent to it. It is in this majestic architectural structure, located on a high hill, on one of the banks of the huge Thames, that the Queen of England arranges magnificent receptions and fulfills the obligations assigned to her by the people. Any tourist who is lucky enough to get to Windsor Castle will be able to familiarize himself with all these obligations.

The residence of the monarchs of England, which is often called “The Winding Shores,” is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest castle on our entire vast planet. Its dimensions are 580x165 meters. In addition, Windsor Castle is of genuine interest to travelers because this oldest building in Foggy Albion has not been turned into a museum and is not a “dead” attraction: it is still in full swing with life. The Queen receives high-ranking guests of the country there, signs some state documents and demonstrates the prosperity of the monarchy in the United Kingdom.

View of (from left to right) Lancaster's Tower, King George IV's Gate, York's Tower

It would seem that Windsor Castle, which is the current residence of the monarchical family, should be closed from prying eyes. However, many of its premises, in which the queen, her son and grandchildren do not live, are available for inspection, but, at the same time, do not officially belong to any museum.

Visiting Windsor Castle is the dream of hundreds of thousands of tourists, however, not all of them manage to get to the residence of the Queen of Great Britain. Crowds of tourists are not typical for the halls of Windsor Castle. Tours around it are ordered and guests are required to maintain silence, because this is a place where Her Majesty receives numerous heads of other states.

In many means mass media In England, you can find statements from Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor herself: in them she admits that the largest castle in the world is her favorite residence. She even visits the majestic Buckingham Palace much less frequently than the castle in Berkshire. Before dwelling on the history of the emergence and construction of Windsor Castle, I would like to clarify that the Queen of Great Britain lives in her favorite residence only two months a year: in mid-spring (April) and early summer (June). This only means that the queen’s “work schedule” is quite busy.

View of Edward III's Tower

Windsor Castle - history and construction

The construction of Windsor Castle began during the reign of the legendary William the Conqueror, who, thanks to his talent as a strategist, was able to conquer the entire British Isles in 1066. As we know from history, William the Conqueror was born a warrior (which, in principle, is clear from his nickname), the world of beauty was alien to him. During his reign, all the buildings that were erected on the territory British Isles, were intended only for two purposes: to intimidate the Anglo-Saxons and to prevent the enemy army from invading the conquered territory.

On the site where the beloved residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor now stands, in as soon as possible an embankment appeared. On this artificial hill, William the Conqueror orders the construction of a small wooden outpost. It was impossible to withstand a long siege or assault in it: a small army was there only to monitor one of the roads that led to London. In the event of an invasion by an enemy army, messengers from the wooden fortress would immediately report what was happening to the capital, from which a huge army would advance to meet the enemy. By and large, the strategically important object was an ordinary observation post.

View of St. George's Gate

By the way, it was under William the Conqueror that the construction of the main attraction of modern Great Britain began - the gloomy Tower. 100 years later, Henry of Anjou decides to strengthen the building erected by William the Conqueror, and builds walls of durable stone around the wooden premises. In addition, a donjon appears in the courtyard, which is a round tower.

In this form, the architectural structure stood until 1350, until Edward III ascended the throne. By the way, he was born in the same fortification. By his order, many old buildings were destroyed, the artificial hill was strengthened, and in the very center of the fortress, workers partially rebuilt the so-called “Round Tower”. Surprisingly, the architectural structure, erected by order of Edward III, has survived to this day. Naturally, it would be presumptuous to say that a modern tourist will be able to see it in its original form.

Round Tower

Over time, the central castle was rebuilt and strengthened several times. By the way, even under Edward III, a deep moat was dug around the castle in Windsor. It was supposed to be filled with water to create another barrier for the enemy army. This idea failed: as mentioned above, the hill was artificial, so the ground in it allowed water to flow, which flowed into the Thames.

Edward III, whose fate was inextricably linked with Windsor Castle, participated with his army in many wars. He went down in history not only due to the start of construction of the largest stone castle in the world, but also due to the fact that he legitimized the Order of the Garter. From the name of the order it becomes clear that Edward III tried to live according to the laws established in his time by King Arthur. The title “knight” was not an empty phrase for Edward III. As we know from history, the winning knight in the tournament received a garter as a reward beautiful lady, hence the name of the order, approved by the monarch and which played a huge role in the establishment of the king’s power in Foggy Albion.

View of Henry VIII's Tower

The heyday of Windsor Castle was in the 14th and 15th centuries. During this period a church was built. By the way, its construction continued during the reign of two kings: Edward IV and Henry VIII. The ashes of the last of them still rest on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is worth clarifying that the tomb of the kings is located in the chapel of St. George. It is the second most important in the entire United Kingdom. It is in it that the most outstanding people find eternal peace. English monarchs. At the moment, Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Henry VIII, Charles I and other equally famous august persons rest here.

Henry VIII Gate

Before continuing the history of the construction of Windsor Castle, perhaps we should go back a little in time and dwell on one terrible event that overshadowed the entire history of the most magnificent architectural structure. In 1648, on the orders of Oliver Cromwell, Windsor Castle was captured and used as the headquarters of his army. It was this year that in the castle where Elizabeth II now enjoys life, there was Charles executed I. By the way, they buried him right in the same place where they took his life. From the beginning of this subsection it becomes clear that the power of the monarchs was restored 12 years after the execution of the king.

After the passing of Charles II, who made an invaluable contribution to the construction of the majestic Windsor Castle, the kings of England, for some unknown reason, forgot about the country residence until 1820. At the beginning of the 19th century, the son of George III ascended the throne, who first of all gave an order, by the way, without delay approved by Parliament, for the restoration and significant expansion of Windsor Castle.

Queen Victoria statue in front of Salisbury Tower

The son of George III ruled for only 10 years, but during this period of time, the architects and workers he hired completely reconstructed the old castle and literally turned it into a luxurious palace before our eyes.

Modern experts argue that Windsor Castle, which was reconstructed and expanded from 1820 to 1830, was built in the Gothic style. There is, of course, some truth in their words, but authoritative architects have a slightly different opinion; the castle was built in two styles at once: neo-Gothic (new Gothic style) and romantic styles. A huge number of decorative elements appeared, and the height of the towers increased significantly. The ingenious architects and engineers of that time developed a unique plan, thanks to which numerous buildings dating from different eras turned into a magnificent ensemble, striking the imagination with its luxury.

View of the Commandant's Tower

Windsor Castle - Royal Residence Tour

Modern tourists who come to get acquainted with the architectural styles of Windsor Castle, its interior decoration and treasures and magnificent gardens should definitely purchase an audio guide on its grounds. It is worth noting that a tour of Windsor Castle will take the whole day. It is the audio guide, which, by the way, is also offered in Russian, that will allow you to see all the main attractions of the largest castle in the world and not miss anything interesting and worthy of attention.

Through the gates of Windsor Castle, the tourist will enter the courtyard, in which the famous “Round Tower” rises, built by order of Henry II and rebuilt by Edward III. By the way, in this tower Edward II held meetings of knights at the legendary round table, invented by King Arthur. It is also interesting that by this tower you can find out whether Elizabeth II of Windsor is in her favorite residence, or whether she is currently absent. If the Queen of Great Britain stays at Windsor Castle, her personal standard flutters in the wind on the round tower.

Chapel of St. George

After visiting courtyard At Windsor Castle, the audio guide will recommend visiting a real doll's house dedicated to Queen Mary. It is in this building that you can see tourists who come to see this attraction with children. True, all these dolls are not toys or even museum exhibits. Mary's Doll's House is an exhibition that gives visitors to Windsor Castle an insight into how monarchs lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After visiting the Doll's House, where many stay for quite a long time, guests of the castle go on a journey through its halls. The halls of Windsor Castle are a real exhibition of paintings by the most famous and most talented artists in the world. The walls of the halls are decorated with paintings by Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and other equally famous and legendary painters. Naturally, it’s not even worth emphasizing that all the paintings are originals, because the material is about the favorite residence of the Queen of Great Britain.

Norman Gate

Of particular interest to all tourists without exception is the St. George's Hall, or rather its ceiling. It depicts the heraldic symbols of the knights belonging to the Order of the Garter. By the way, on the ceiling of the hall of St. George, you can see three Russian coats of arms at once: Alexander I, Alexander II and Nicholas I. All these three Russian emperors were knighted and entered the legendary Order of the Garter. Their initiation took place in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle, which is located just outside St. George's Hall. After being knighted, the new members of the Order of the Garter proceeded to Waterloo Hall, where a gala dinner was held.

Another interesting and luxurious room is the Chapel of St. George. As mentioned above, the most famous monarchs who once played a key role in the formation of the United Kingdom are buried there. It is impossible to describe all its luxurious decoration in words. It seems that all the decorative elements and even the walls are made of noble metals and inlaid with precious stones.

From left to right: Queen's Tower, Clarence Tower, Chester Tower, Prince of Wales Tower

By the way, this impression is not deceptive: during the construction of the Church of St. George, which is listed in many guidebooks as the “Temple of the Order of the Garter,” expensive marble, gold and silver were used. In St. George's Chapel, the service is attended by the queen herself and the heir to the throne, who until a certain point was Prince Charles. Even if a tourist gets into the chapel during the service, he will not be able to see the queen and her heir.

At the back of the temple there are two booths, which are closed from prying eyes with thick fabric. It is impossible to guess where the queen sits and where the prince sits. If only because the answer to this question will not be given even after the end of the service. By and large, this is one of the most luxurious premises of Windsor Castle; naturally, you will not be able to enter the premises where the Queen lives. Elizabeth II even prohibits taking photos of her inner chambers.

View of the Arsenal Tower

Windsor Castle - tourist guide

After visiting the accessible premises of Windsor Castle, there is no need to rush to the hotel. Indescribable luxury can also be seen in the gardens laid out on the territory adjacent to the architectural structure.

Windsor Castle is open seasonally (March to October) from 9.30am to 5.30pm. You can enter it no later than 16.00. IN winter time The castle closes to visitors at 16.15. As already mentioned at the very beginning of the article, from visitors huge castle peace and beloved residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor, silence is required. The royal guard ensures peace and order. The same guard that is depicted in many paintings and photographs of professional artists. By the way, the changing of the royal guard at Windsor Castle is a real spectacle, which would be an unforgivable mistake not to watch.

There is a fee to visit Windsor Castle. An adult ticket costs £14.50; children can visit the royal residence for £8. There is also a so-called family ticket”, which costs £34.5 and includes a visit to Windsor Castle for two adults and one child.

Castle courtyard

The best way to get to Windsor Castle is by train. By the way, at the railway ticket office you can immediately purchase tickets to visit one of the main attractions of Great Britain. In this case, you won’t be able to save money, but you will be able to save time. The thing is that there are two entrances to Windsor Castle, intended for tourists. Travelers who purchased a ticket at the ticket office near the castle enter one of them, and the second one - at the railway ticket office. The queue at the last entrance is much shorter than at the first. Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor of Great Britain, of course, enters her residence through a separate entrance, so you won’t be able to come face to face with Her Majesty in line at the castle.

Windsor Castle, England, London, 11th century castle-fortress

The Windsor residence of the monarchs is the largest castle in the world, included in the list, is one of the symbols of the English monarchy and the favorite country residence of the Queen of Great Britain.

Windsor Castle is undoubtedly the most famous in England. The main home of the British royal family since the time of William the Conqueror, it is also considered to be the largest and oldest residential castle in the world. And also, concurrently, it is famous throughout the world.

The history of Windsor Castle began with King William the Conqueror, it was by his decree that the construction of a wooden fortification began to keep the western routes to London under control and protection.

Since those hoary times, the appearance of the palace has repeatedly changed in accordance with the taste of the next reigning monarch. Modern Windsor Castle is a real architectural complex, which includes fortress walls and towers and chapels.

In the center of Windsor Castle, on an artificial hill, is the tallest tower of the fortification - the “Round Tower”. Having overcome 220 steps leading to the top of the tower, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the surroundings of the palace. Huge territory The complex is divided into two main parts - upper and lower.

At the top are the royal apartments and chambers for official receptions, richly decorated with paintings, furnished with antique furniture and other attributes of luxury from royal collections. At the bottom is St. George's Chapel, a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture.

Windsor Castle is believed to be haunted. Servants and members of the royal family have repeatedly noticed ghosts from among the former kings in the palace premises. Most often this is King Henry VIII.

When someone from the royal family, the king or queen, comes to the castle, the personal standard of the British monarchs is hung on the Round Tower.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 08.11.2015 11:08

The first fortifications consisted of a wooden structure on top of an artificial hill. Throughout history, Windsor Castle has been rebuilt several times. Many monarchs have put their stamp on this fortress, but the round hill, surrounded by walls, remains still in the same position as on the day it was founded by William. The fortress's strategic location - 30 km west of London, near the Thames River embankment - made it an important Norman post.

King Henry II built the first stone buildings in 1170. King Edward III, who was born here, destroyed most of Henry's buildings and in 1350 built his new "round castle" in the center of the fortress. Edward's central structure remains to this day, although with significant modifications.

St George's Chapel, the main church of the complex, was founded during the reign of King Edward IV (1461-1483) and completed by King Henry VIII (1509-1547), who is buried there along with nine other British monarchs.

The bloodiest episode in Windsor Castle's history took place during the English Civil War, when Oliver Cromwell's Roundhead troops captured it and used it as a fortress and headquarters for the Parliamentary Army. Deposed monarch Charles I on a short time imprisoned in Windsor Castle and buried here after his execution in 1648.

The monarchy was then restored in 1660. Charles II began one of the most extensive periods of renovation and expansion, significantly transforming the entire complex. Emulating the Palace of Versailles in France, Charles laid out many shady alleys in the surrounding area.

After the death of Charles II, subsequent monarchs until George III preferred to use other palaces and castles in England. It was during the reign of George III's son, George IV (1820-1830), that the final major restoration that the royal house experienced was begun. George's architects transformed the ancient castle into the spectacular Gothic palace you see today. The height of the towers increased and decorative elements were added to unite buildings from different eras.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 11.12.2015 10:06

Windsor Castle remains the main residence of the royal family, but much of it is now open to tourists. Like Buckingham Palace, it is guarded by a guard, the ceremonial changing of which visitors can watch every day. And in the majestic halls you can see valuable paintings, decorative ceiling structures and antique furniture.

A fire in 1992 destroyed part of the royal apartments open to the public, but they have been carefully restored. While exploring the complex, take a walk through Windsor Great Park with its beautiful sculptures - part of the forest where royal hunts once took place.

You'll need a full day to visit England's greatest castle, making it a wonderful break from the sights of London. And in Leeds you can see the most romantic fortress, which also served as home to many queens of England. At Conwy is another, one of the largest fortresses built by Edward.

Windsor Castle is open to the public daily from 9.30 to 17.30, on Sunday from 10.00 to 16.00.
Cost: £14 (about $22.4), children under 15 years old - £8.
How to get there: from London (40 km) to Windsor, trains depart from Waterloo and Paddington stations (at least two per hour). Buses no. 700, 701, 702 from Buckingham Palace Road, no. 77 from Heathrow Airport.
Official website: www.windsor.gov.uk

Sasha Mitrakhovich 11.12.2015 10:07

Windsor Castle is one of the most famous in the world. The only castle where people have lived for over 900 years. Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family consider it their home. Survivor of war, the age of medieval knights and the English Civil War. In 1649, a demolition bill in the English Parliament was defeated by just one vote! Windsor Castle was forgotten and then turned into a luxurious palace. Survived two world wars, and then was almost destroyed by accidental fire. It's no wonder people are captivated by the magnificent Windsor Castle. The photo is presented below.

Historical facts

The history of Windsor Castle begins with William the Conqueror, who began construction in England in 1070. By 1100, over 900 years ago, his son Henry I created living quarters, making it not only the largest castle in the world, but also the oldest. It, along with Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, is one of the main official residences Monarcha.

Since the time of Henry I (1068-1135) it has been used by all monarchs and is the only residential palace in Europe. From the 1350s to the 1370s, Edward III transformed Windsor from a military fortification into a Gothic palace. Edward's basic design continued into the Tudor period, during which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I increasingly used the castle as a royal court and center of diplomatic entertainment. During the English Civil War (1642-1651) the castle was used as a prison for Charles I and a military headquarters for the Parliamentary forces.

At the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles II rebuilt much of Windsor Castle with the help of the architect Hugh May, creating many extravagant Baroque interiors that continue to be admired.

After a period of neglect during the 18th century, George III and George IV repaired and restored Charles II's palace at enormous expense, producing the existing apartment designs in Rococo, Gothic and Baroque styles.

Queen Victoria made a few minor changes to the castle, which became the center of royal entertainment for most of her reign.

Where is Windsor Castle?

Windsor is an hour's drive west of London, 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport. English royal residence stands on a ridge on the north-eastern edge of the district of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England.

How to get there

Many tourists are interested in how to get to Windsor Castle. By Car: From Central London - Take the A4 towards Kensington and Knightsbridge onto the M4 WEST to Heathrow Airport. Toward Windsor/A332. Parking is £6 per full day.

By train: There are two in Windsor railway stations located next to the castle. Paddington station is served by Windsor & Eton Central. You need to go by train to Central Station Windsor. Transport from Paddington Station departs every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. The journey takes from 25 to 35 minutes. In 2017 return tickets cost from £10.50. The other station is Windsor and Eton Riverside station, which is served by London Waterloo station. The journey takes just under an hour, and return fares start from £12 (2017).

By bus: Routes 701 and 702 travel between London and Windsor several times an hour. The journey takes an hour and ten minutes, and return fares start from £15.

What to see

Inside are magnificent apartments, luxuriously decorated rooms that are used for various government functions. A photo of the inside of Windsor Castle is shown below.

Be sure to visit the Gothic St. George's Chapel, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, and the art exhibition that takes place throughout the year. A tour of the area can be organized at an additional cost. state kitchen. Be sure to watch the Guard Change, which occurs at 11:00 am Monday to Saturday from April to the end of July.

Next to the castle in the south, east and north there is a park with an area of 500 hectares. Frogmore, site of the mausoleum of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, is also located here. To the south of the castle there is a Great Park with an area of 1800 hectares. Long Alley, a 5 km long avenue, planted by Charles II in 1685. Old trees were replaced by newer ones in 1945.

Cost of visit

The price range includes categories:

adults - £21.20 per ticket
over 60s, students - £19.30 per ticket
under 17 years - £12.30 per ticket
family (two adults and three children under 17) - £54.70 per ticket.
In addition, children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge. Ticket prices in 2018 are valid from January 9 to December 31.

Working hours

The opening time of the castle is influenced by the fact that Windsor Castle is used for ceremonial, state events and for Queen's weekends throughout most of the year.

Opening hours:

March - October - from 9:45 to 5:15 pm (last entry at 4 o'clock).

From November to February - from 9:45 pm to 4:15 pm.

Why you need to visit this place

This is the oldest castle in the world. The official home of Her Majesty the Queen is full of history that dates back over 1,000 years. It's no surprise that the castle has become a popular tourist destination for those on holiday in the UK.

Over the years, various monarchs have contributed to the architecture. The "master builders" who fortified the castle were Edward III in the 14th century, Charles II in the 17th century.

When the queen's mother was still alive, the castle was a favorite building. It covers an area of over 13 acres of land which includes:

a chapel where 10 British monarchs are buried;
a residential area containing treasures from the royal collection;
a beautiful dolls' house that once belonged to Queen Mary;
a gallery with an art exhibition inside for tourists to showcase British art;
five state rooms, they are still used by the royal family.

Description of Windsor Castle

The castle, after centuries of changes, contains about 1000 rooms. William the Conqueror chose the site of Windsor Castle at "New Windsor" - taking the name from "Old Windsor" which was used by the Saxon kings. "New Windsor" was 100 feet above the River Thames and on the edge of a Saxon hunting field. Despite numerous changes, the outer walls and central mound of the castle are still in the same position as the original one built by William the Conqueror.

Windsor Castle consists of three "wards" - the upper ward, the middle ward and the lower ward.

On the north side of the Lower Ward is the Chapel of St. George. The chapel is an architectural landmark. This huge building is the spiritual home of the Order of Knights, dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, designed in the Gothic style. It is the burial place of ten monarchs, including Henry VIII and Charles I.

The middle chamber is actually a round tower that is built in the shape of an amphitheater on the highest part of the mountain. Consists of a guards chamber, a dining room, a dressing room and a chamber for beds.

The Upper House contains the royal apartments and large state rooms. Comprises:

Royal Apartments;
Royal Guard;
Queen's Presence Chambers;
The Queen's Auditoriums;
Rooms for playing balls;
Royal Drawing Room;
King bed;
Beauty rooms;
Royal dressing room;
Queen Elizabeth Galleries (Art Gallery);
Chinese cabinet;
Royal wardrobe;
Royal dressing room;
King bed;
Royal Drawing Room;
Royal Public Dining Room;
Columned King's Chamber;
Chambers of the King's Presence;
Royal Guards;
St. George's Hall and St. George's Church or the King's Chapel.

This is the oldest inhabited castle in the world, family home British kings for 1000 years.
Henry I was the first monarch to use Windsor Castle as a home, and during his reign the timber supports and walls were replaced with stone.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made the castle their main residence. After Albert's death, Queen Victoria was sometimes called the "Widow of Windsor".
During World War II, the castle's windows were blacked out, many of its most valuable works of art were moved away, and the royal bedrooms were fortified in case of siege. The royal family slept in this castle during World War II, but it was a secret. The public believed that they spent their nights at Buckingham Palace.
The Great Fire of November 20, 1992 damaged and destroyed 20% of the castle area. The palace was completely renovated over several years at a cost of £36.5 million.
Seventeen cannons are mounted on the wall of the Tower.
During the devastating fire at Windsor Castle, about one and a half million gallons of water were used.
Today, more than 150 people live and work on the castle grounds.
The Royal Librarian oversees a priceless collection of 300,000 books, prints and drawings.
The castle has 300 fireplaces, cared for by one family that has been working for generations.
There are over 450 clocks at Windsor Castle (including Windsor Great Park).
The Great Kitchen - served 32 monarchs, including Her Majesty the Queen.
In order to protect the royal family, the castle necessarily had holes in the walls through which hot water was poured onto the invaders; loopholes from which they shot back from uninvited guests.

Purpose and functions

The original functions of Windsor Castle were:

First of all, this is a defensive function. Protection from enemy invaders.
Provide retreat for the royal family during periods of civil unrest.

Windsor Castle in London was first built with a central keep, the first of the towers being called the "Great Tower". Took form with successive lines of fortification only after hundreds of years and several different reigns. There are now many different towers that make up Windsor.

Additional functions

Royal residence.
A prison that housed very important government prisoners.
Royal burial place.

Prisoners of Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle in England contains many dungeons that have been occupied by many famous prisoners.

Some of the famous prisoners:

1265 - Lord Mayor, named FitzThomas.
1346 - King John II of France and King David II of Scotland were imprisoned in luxury in the Upper Ward until they were ransomed. King Edward III often used the castle as a prison.
1413 - Earl of March and Prince James (later James I) of Scotland were imprisoned at Windsor.
1546 - Poet, Earl of Surrey.
1647 - King Charles I was imprisoned.

Prisoners were kept in the Devil's Tower or in the dungeons. When they died, their bodies were hung from the tower as a warning to others.

Windsor residence of the monarchs - the largest castle in the world

In the county of Berkshire, which is known to every resident of England, stands the most beautiful castle in England. Moreover, according to many sociological surveys, it is also the most beautiful castle in the whole world. There is nothing surprising about this, because the Queen of Great Britain and members of her family currently live there. Naturally, the former power of the English monarchs has long sunk into the past, but the queen, princes and their wives even today live in luxury beyond words. The thing is that the family of monarchs, even in the 21st century, is considered a symbol of England.

For those who are not familiar with the political structure of Great Britain, it is worth clarifying that all power in the country is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister and Parliament. However, the queen’s presence at all ceremonial events and many official receptions is considered mandatory. It is for this reason that monarchs still live in the most beautiful castle in the world and enjoy a huge number of privileges. It may not be entirely appropriate to draw a parallel between the members of the royal family and the heraldic symbols of the country, but it is precisely this comparison that most fully reflects the constitutional-parliamentary monarchical system in England . According to the most authoritative politicians, this model of governing the country is the most effective and, at the same time, allows Great Britain to demonstrate its luxury and wealth to all countries of the world.

Luxury and wealth are the two definitions that best characterize Windsor Castle and the luxurious park adjacent to it. It is in this majestic architectural structure, located on a high hill, on one of the banks of the huge Thames, that the Queen of England arranges magnificent receptions and fulfills the obligations entrusted to her by the people. Any tourist who is lucky enough to get into Windsor Castle.

The residence of the monarchs of England, which is often called “The Winding Shores,” is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest castle on our entire vast planet. Its dimensions are 580x165 meters. Besides this, Windsor Castle It also arouses genuine interest among travelers because this oldest building in England has not turned into a museum and is not a “dead” attraction: it is still full of life. The Queen receives high-ranking guests of the country there, signs some state documents and demonstrates the prosperity of the monarchy in the United Kingdom.

It would seem that Windsor Castle, which is the current residence of the royal family, should be closed from prying eyes. However, many of its premises, in which the queen, her son and grandchildren do not live, are available for inspection, but, at the same time, do not officially belong to any museum.

Visit Windsor Castle- the dream of hundreds of thousands of tourists, however, not all of them manage to get to the residence of the Queen of Great Britain. Crowds of tourists are not typical for the halls of the castle in Windsor. Tours around it are ordered and guests are required to maintain silence, because this is a place where Her Majesty receives numerous heads of other states.

In many media outlets in England you can find statements from Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor herself: in them she admits that the largest castle in the world is her favorite residence. She even visits the majestic Buckingham Palace much less often than the castle in Berkshire. Before dwelling on the history of the emergence and construction of Windsor Castle, I would like to clarify that the Queen of Great Britain lives in her favorite residence only two months a year: in mid-spring (April) and early summer ( in June). This only means that the queen’s “work schedule” is quite busy.

Windsor Castle- history of origin and construction

The construction of Windsor Castle began under the reign of the legendary William the Conqueror, who, thanks to his talent as a strategist, was able to conquer all the British Isles in 1066. As we know from history, William the Conqueror was born a warrior (which, in principle, is clear from his nickname), the world of beauty was alien to him. During his reign, all the buildings that were erected on the territory of the British Isles were intended only for two purposes: to intimidate the Anglo-Saxons and to prevent the invasion of the enemy army into the conquered territory.

In the place where the beloved residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor now stands, an embankment appeared in the shortest possible time. On this artificial hill, William the Conqueror orders the construction of a small wooden outpost. It was impossible to withstand a long siege or assault in it: a small army was in it only to monitor one of the roads that led to London. In the event of an invasion by an enemy army, messengers from the wooden fortress would immediately report what was happening to the capital, from which a huge army would advance to meet the enemy. By and large, the strategically important object was an ordinary observation point. By the way, it was under William the Conqueror that construction began on the main attraction of modern Great Britain - the gloomy Tower. 100 years later, Henry of Anjou decides to strengthen the building erected by William the Conqueror, and builds walls of durable stone around the wooden premises. In addition, in the inner courtyard there is a donjon, which is a round tower.

Round tower (much later)

In this form, the architectural structure stood until 1350, until Edward III ascended the throne. By the way, he was born in the same fortification. By his order, many old buildings were destroyed, the artificial hill was fortified, and in the very center of the fortress, workers partially rebuilt the so-called “Round Tower”. Surprisingly, the architectural structure, erected by order of Edward III, has survived to this day. Naturally, it would be presumptuous to say that a modern tourist will be able to see it in its original form.

Edward III, whose fate was inextricably linked with Windsor Castle, participated with his army in many wars. He went down in history not only due to the start of construction of the largest stone castle in the world, but also due to the fact that he legitimized the Order of the Garter. From the name of the order it becomes clear that Edward III tried to live by the laws established in his time by King Arthur. The title “knight” was not an empty phrase for Edward III. As we know from history, the winning knight in the tournament received a beautiful lady’s garter as a reward, hence the name of the order, approved by the monarch and which played a huge role in the establishment of the king’s power in England.

Blooming period Windsor Castle occurred in the 14th and 15th centuries. During this period a church was built. By the way, its construction continued during the reign of two kings at once: Edward IV and Henry VIII. The ashes of the last of them still rest on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It is worth clarifying that the tomb of the kings is located in the chapel of St. George. It is the second most important in the entire United Kingdom. It is in it that the most outstanding English monarchs find eternal peace. Currently, Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Henry VIII, Charles I and other equally famous August persons rest here.

Windsor at the end of the 19th century

Chapel Saint George

In 1666, King Charles II began large-scale construction of new buildings at Windsor Castle and ordered the restoration of the old buildings, which had already begun to collapse as a result of the inexorable passage of time. Architects of that time took the beautiful Palace of Versailles, located in France, as a model for the construction of a luxurious country residence for monarchs. During the reign of Charles II, on the territory adjacent to the castle, many gardens with stunning shady alleys were laid out. Before continuing the history of the construction of Windsor Castle, perhaps we should go back a little in time and dwell on one terrible event that overshadowed the entire history of this magnificent architectural structure. In 1648, by order of Oliver Cromwell Windsor Castle was captured and used as the headquarters of his army. It was this year that Charles I was executed in the castle where Elizabeth II is now enjoying life. By the way, they buried him right in the same place where they took his life. From the beginning of this subsection it becomes clear that the power of the monarchs was restored 12 years after the execution of the king.

After the passing of Charles II, who made an invaluable contribution to the construction of the majestic Windsor Castle, the kings of England, for some unknown reason, forgot about the country residence until 1820. At the beginning of the 19th century, the son of George III ascended the throne, and the first thing he did was give an order, by the way, without delay approved by Parliament, for the restoration and significant expansion of Windsor Castle.

The son of George III ruled for only 10 years, but during this period of time, the architects and workers he hired completely reconstructed the old castle and literally before our eyes turned it into a luxurious palace.

Modern experts claim that Windsor Castle, which was reconstructed and expanded from 1820 to 1830, was built in the Gothic style. In their words, of course, there is some truth, but authoritative architects have a slightly different opinion; the castle was built in two styles at once: in the neo-Gothic (new Gothic style) and romantic styles. A huge number of decorative elements appeared, and the height of the towers increased significantly. The brilliant architects and engineers of that time developed a unique plan, thanks to which numerous buildings dating from different eras turned into a magnificent ensemble, striking the imagination with its luxury .

Windsor Castle - tour of the royal residence

Modern tourists who came to get acquainted with the architectural styles of Windsor Castle, its interior decoration and treasures and magnificent garden should definitely purchase an audio guide on its territory. It is worth noting that a tour of Windsor Castle will take the whole day. It is the audio guide, which, by the way, is also offered in Russian, that will allow you to see all the main attractions of the largest castle in the world and not miss anything interesting or worthy of attention.

Round tower

Through the gate Windsor Castle the tourist will find himself in the courtyard, in which the famous “Round Tower” rises, built by order of Henry II and rebuilt by Edward III. By the way, in this tower Edward II held meetings of knights at the legendary round table, invented by King Arthur. It is also interesting that from this tower you can find out whether Elizabeth II of Windsor is at her favorite residence, or whether she is currently absent. If the Queen of Great Britain stays at Windsor Castle, her personal standard flutters in the wind on the round tower.

Royal Standard

After visiting the courtyard Windsor Castle The audio guide will advise you to visit a real doll's house dedicated to Queen Mary. It is in this building that you can see tourists who have come to see this attraction with children. True, all these dolls are not toys or even museum exhibits. Mary's Doll's House is an exhibition that allows visitors to Windsor Castle to get an idea of how monarchs lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Mary's doll house

After visiting the Dollhouse, in which many stay for quite a long time, the guests of the castle go on a journey through its halls. The halls of Windsor Castle are a real exhibition of paintings by the most famous and talented artists in the world. The walls of the halls are decorated with paintings by Van Dyck, Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and other equally famous and legendary painters. Naturally, it’s not even worth emphasizing that all the pictures are originals, because the material is about the favorite residence of the Queen of Great Britain.

St. George's Hall

Throne room

Of particular interest to all tourists without exception is the Hall of St. George, or rather its ceiling. It depicts the heraldic symbols of the knights belonging to the Order of the Garter. By the way, on the ceiling of the hall of St. George, you can see three Russian coats of arms at once: Alexander I, Alexander II and Nicholas I. All these three Russian emperors were knighted and entered the legendary Order of the Garter. Their initiation took place in the Throne Room Windsor Castle, which is located immediately behind the hall of St. George. After being knighted, the new members of the Order of the Garter proceeded to Waterloo Hall, where a gala dinner was held.

Another interesting and luxurious room is the Chapel of St. George. As mentioned above, the most famous monarchs are buried there, who at one time played a key role in the formation of the United Kingdom. It is not possible to describe all its luxurious decoration in words. It seems that all the decorative elements and even the walls are made of noble metals and inlaid with precious stones. By the way, this impression is not deceptive: during the construction of the Church of St. George, which in many guidebooks is listed as the “Temple of the Order of the Garter,” expensive marble, gold and silver were used. In St. George's Chapel, the Queen herself and the heir to the throne, who until a certain point was Prince Charles, are present at the service. Even if a tourist gets into the chapel during the service, he will not be able to see the queen and her heir.

At the back of the temple there are two booths, which are closed from prying eyes with thick fabric. It is impossible to guess where the queen is sitting and where the prince is. If only because the answer to this question will not be given even after the end of the service. By and large, this is one of the most luxurious premises of Windsor Castle; naturally, you will not be able to enter the premises where the Queen lives. Elizabeth II even prohibits taking photos of her inner chambers.

Windsor Castle- tourist reminder

After visiting the accessible premises of Windsor Castle, do not rush to the hotel. Indescribable luxury can also be seen in the gardens laid out in the area adjacent to the architectural structure.

Windsor Castle is open seasonally (March to October) from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. You can enter it no later than 16.00. In winter, the castle closes to visitors at 16.15. As already mentioned at the very beginning of the article, visitors to the largest castle in the world and the favorite residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor are required to maintain silence. The royal guard ensures peace and order. The same guard that is depicted in many paintings and photographs of professional artists. By the way, the changing of the guard of the royal guard in Windsor Castle– a real performance, not to watch which would be an unforgivable mistake.

There is a fee to visit Windsor Castle. A ticket for an adult costs 14.5 pounds sterling, children can visit the royal residence for 8 pounds sterling. There is also a so-called “family ticket”, the cost of which is 34.5 pounds sterling: it includes a visit to Windsor Castle by two adults and one child.

Before Windsor Castle The best way to get there is by train. By the way, at the railway ticket offices you can immediately purchase tickets to visit one of the main attractions of Great Britain. In this case, you won’t be able to save money, but you will be able to save time. The thing is that there are two entrances to Windsor Castle, intended for tourists. Travelers who purchased a ticket at the ticket office at the castle enter one of them, and the second - at the railway ticket office. The queue at the last entrance is significantly shorter than at the first. Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor of Great Britain, naturally, enters her residence through a separate entrance, so it will not be possible to come face to face with Her Majesty in line at the castle.

The article was prepared using materials from the site https://putidorogi-nn.ru