St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle, England: history of the castle, photos, how to get there from London

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, 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 it under control and protection. western paths in London.

Since those hoary times appearance The palace was 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. 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

Of all the castles built by William the Conqueror, Windsor played the most important role both strategically - this fortress was closest to the Thames, on which capital London stood, and in the life of the court - there were hunting grounds Windsor Forest.

FAMILY JEWEL

The walls of Windsor Castle are silent witnesses palace intrigues and conspiracies, making peace and declaring wars, loyalty and betrayal, ultimately affecting the fate of the whole world.

Windsor castle - historical monument and a symbol of the British monarchy for almost a thousand years. The residence of the kings stands on a hilltop, in the valley of the River Thames, among the picturesque green landscapes of Berkshire.

Over the centuries, Windsor Castle did not escape restructuring: each new monarch, as far as the treasury's capabilities allowed, made changes to the general ensemble in accordance with the spirit of the times and his own idea of ​​architecture. This is also why Windsor Castle has a unique history. royal dynasties in stone.

However, by changing individual elements of the composition, none of the kings decided to disturb the position of the main buildings around the 30-meter hill made of limestone (today it is lower), on which William I the Conqueror (about 1027/1028-1087) in the second half of the 10th century . erected the first wooden castle. The building was surrounded by a stone wall, additional walls were built on the eastern (later turned into the Upper Court) and western slopes of the hill, and within these boundaries the castle has survived to this day.

During the era of foreign invasions and feudal wars, Windsor Castle was a full-fledged defensive structure, moreover, surrounded by forests where only the king could hunt. All subsequent monarchs appreciated the insightful choice of William the Conqueror: in Windsor Castle one could hide from wars and civil unrest in London, without forgetting about a pleasant pastime.

During the reign of William I the Conqueror and his heir William II the Red (about 1056/1060-1100), the residence of the English kings was the estate of the Anglo-Saxon kings in the town of Old Windsor.

Windsor Castle became the royal residence in 1110 - under Henry I Beauclerk (1068-1135). By that time, the embankment had subsided noticeably, wooden fortress collapsed, and the king ordered a stone one to be erected in its place, having previously strengthened the hill with thick wooden piles.

In the middle of the 12th century. King Henry II Plantagenet (1133-1189) completed the stone castle and surrounded the Upper Court with a reliable stone wall, during which the first Royal Gates appeared - the main entrance to the castle.

In the 13th century The castle was besieged twice by rebellious English barons and their French allies - in 1214 and 1216. From 1216 to 1221 The castle was restored and strengthened: gates appeared in the walls of the Lower Court, towers grew: the Watchtower, the Garter Tower, Salisbury, Edward III and Henry III. However, no one else in history tried to take Windsor Castle by storm, except for the weak attempt of a small group of royalists to drive out supporters of Parliament from here during the English War. Revolution XVII V.

Henry III (1207-1272) adored Windsor Castle and nearly emptied the country's treasury by erecting a luxurious palace in the northern part of the Upper Yard and several buildings in the Lower Yard, including the Chapel of Our Lady.

In the 1640s. during the English Revolution of the 17th century. The castle was plundered by supporters of Parliament and Cromwell, and King Charles I (1600-1649) was kept in custody here until his execution. The king's body was taken to Windsor Castle, where it was buried in St. George's Chapel.

The familiar silhouette of the castle appeared in the 1820s. - in the era of King George IV (1762-1830), who was fond of romanticism and neo-Gothicism.

WINDSOR AND WINDSOR

The main home of the current British royal family, Windsor Castle, remains the largest and oldest residential castle in the world.

The Windsor dynasty of the castle's inhabitants appeared just a hundred years ago, in 1917, at the peak of anti-German sentiment in the country caused by the First World War. This is not at all strange: at that moment English kings belonged to the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty with ancient Germanic roots. King George V (1865-1936) announced the abandonment of all German names in the royal title and commanded that the name of the dynasty "should henceforth be written and pronounced as the House and Family of Windsor."

To this day, the stone “House of Windsor” is a mixture of medieval styles with architectural elements of Georgian and Victorian era and modernized Gothic fragments. The core of the stone "House of Windsor" is the Central Court on the historic walled mound.

The Round Tower, a 12th-century building, rises on the hill. with a 9-meter superstructure from the 19th century. and interiors, updated in the early 1990s, when it was necessary to establish the Royal Archives here. The name of the tower does not fit in with its appearance: it is not cylindrical, but closer to square. It was built this way for greater stability on the uneven surface of the hill.

Through the West Entrance to the Courtyard you can access the North Terrace and the East Entrance, where the Norman Gatehouse stands. Its name only recalls the times of William I the Conqueror, but it was built two centuries later.

From here you go straight to the Upper Court, also called The Quadrangle. Its northern side is formed by the State Chambers, and the eastern side by the Royal Apartments. On the ground floors there are service premises, above there are the main halls, each of which is decorated in a specific architectural style - classicism, Gothic, Rococo and Jacobean, furnished with appropriate furniture and art objects. It stands out from all of them due to its significant size. Big hall receptions with its 12-meter ceilings and grandiose stucco in the Rococo style.

Each hall has its own living room: White, Green, Crimson. Almost all of them are modern restorations carried out after the 1992 fire.

At the south-west corner of the south wing is the Tower of Edward III, and on the west side is a hill with the Round Tower on its top. At the base of the Round Tower there is equestrian statue Charles II. Along west side The upper courtyard has a North Terrace, overlooking the Thames, and an East Terrace, overlooking the gardens.

Through the Norman Gate to the west of the Round Tower one enters the Lower Court, which retains the charm of the cozy architecture of the mid-Victorian period. At the northern end of the courtyard stands the Gothic Chapel of St. George, the capitular temple of the Order of the Garter, with the choir covered with copper plates depicting the coats of arms of the Knights of the Garter for the last six hundred years. The remains lie in front of the altar Henry VIII, his beloved wife Jane Seymour, who bore him an heir, and Charles I. Nearby is a chapel in memory of Prince Consort Albert.

In the western part of the Lower Court there is a cloister - a covered gallery along the castle wall, called the Horseshoe, or Horseshoe, and behind it is the Watchtower. In the old days, prisoners were kept here, and there is a secret passage from here in case of a siege.

As befits a royal home, Windsor Castle is surrounded by magnificent parks. To the east of the castle is Home Park, to the north is Great Windsor Park.

SIGHTS OF WINDSOR CASTLE

■ Buildings: Round Tower (XII century, 19th century superstructure), Watchtower (XIII century, bells - 1478, clock - 1689), Chapel of Our Lady (Memorial Chapel of Prince Consort Albert, XIII, second half of the 19th century), large underground vault (14th century), Norman gatehouse (Norman Gate, 14th century), chapel of St. George (late 15th - beginning of XVI century, choir - XV, XVIII centuries), Horseshoe cloister (1480, rebuilding 1871), Northern and Eastern terraces (XVII century).

■ Parks: Home (XIX century).

■ Monuments: equestrian statue of Charles II (1679).

■ Interior: State Chambers (Great Reception Hall, White, Green and Crimson Drawing Rooms, Dining Room for Protocol Events), Royal Apartments (Queen's Drawing Room, Queen's Reception Room, King's Dining Room), Grand Staircase, House Church, Large Kitchen.

FUN FACTS

■ The wooden castle was the first on the site of the current stone one at Windsor, but only one of those built by William the Conqueror in the first ten years after the Norman invasion of the island and the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which became turning point V Norman conquest. Even after the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, having become the king of England, William the Conqueror was afraid of losing the throne he had won with such difficulty. For security, he built a ring around London of castles on artificial hills, spaced 32 km (the distance of one day's march of the army) from each other, and in London itself - famous fortress Tower.

■ In 1215, King John the Landless (1167-1216) was at the castle negotiating with rebel barons before signing the Magna Carta at nearby Runnymede.

■ In the 1360s. Windsor Castle held French prisoners captured after the Battle of Poitiers. Among them was King John II the Good (1319-1364), who was waiting for his subjects to pay a ransom of 3 million ecus for him, but died of an unknown illness in 1364. His body was transported to France and buried in the royal tomb Abbey of Saint Denis.

■ Another captive of Windsor Palace is Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482), Queen Consort of England under King Henry VI in 1445-1461 and 1470-1471, when she was engaged in state affairs due to bouts of mental illness of her husband. She ended up in prison after she provoked the War of the Scarlet and White Roses with her hasty decisions.

■B different time Outstanding English architects worked on projects for the reconstruction of Windsor Castle: Inigo Jones (1573-1652) - creator of the London landmark - the Banquet Hall; Hugh May (1621-1684) - author of the plan for the revival of London after the Great Fire, which destroyed the city center in 1666, giving the austere castle the refined features of a Baroque palace; and James Wyatt (1746-1813) - President Royal Academy arts

■ Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was nicknamed “The Widow of Windsor” after her husband Prince Albert died in the Blue Room of Windsor Castle in 1861 and was subsequently buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, a kilometer from the castle. Queen Victoria was first called this by the poet Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the poem “The Widow of Windsor.” Queen Victoria herself considered the castle “dreary and boring” and even claimed that the palace “looked like a prison.”

■ In 1992, a fire occurred at Windsor Castle, severely damaging more than a hundred rooms and a hall. Since the castle was not insured, money for its renovation was raised by charging admission to Buckingham Palace and the park surrounding Windsor Castle. The restoration was completed in 1997.

■ During World War II 1939-1945. King Edward VIII (1894-1972) with his wife and daughters - Princess Margaret and the now living Queen Elizabeth - lived in Windsor Castle, in their apartments, whose ceilings were only slightly strengthened and crystal chandeliers were lowered to the floor in case of bombing.

■ An additional incentive to change the name of the English royal dynasty from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor was the popular outrage caused by the first ever bombing of London on May 25, 1917 by 23 German Gotha G. IV bombers. Having learned about the English crown’s refusal to “German-sound” the name of the dynasty, the German Emperor Wilhelm II jokingly remarked that he would order his theaters to rename William Shakespeare’s play from “The Merry Wives of Windsor” to “Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.”

■ The name of the cloister - Horseshoe - translates as Horseshoe: a hint that it was originally built in the shape of a hoof - one of the heraldic elements on the coat of arms of King Edward IV. In the 19th century The cloister was rebuilt so thoroughly that it almost lost its original appearance.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location: southern UK.
Administrative affiliation: city of Windsor, historical and ceremonial county of Berkshire, region of South-East England.
Status: royal residence.
Founded: around 1070
Nearest city: London - 9,787,426 people. (2014).
Construction (with reconstructions): XI—XXI centuries.

NUMBERS

Area: 52,609 m2.
Hall of St. George: length - 55 m, width - 9 m.
Large reception hall: length - 30 m, height - 12 m.
Residents and service staff: about 500 people

CLIMATE

Temperate maritime.
Mild winter warm summer. average temperature January: +5°C.
Average July temperature: +18°C.
Average annual precipitation: 600 mm.

Windsor Castle is the most famous in England, and in addition, it is considered the oldest in the world, as it served as the home of the British royal family during the reign of William the Conqueror.

The very first fortifications that were in Windsor Castle, had a wooden structure and were located at the very top of an artificial hill. The castle was rebuilt from time to time, and this was repeated not so rarely. Many monarchs left their seals on the fortress, but the round artificial hill remained in its position as it was. It has not changed since the day it was founded by Wilhelm. The fortress was strategically located, making it one of the most important Norman posts. The castle is located 30 km from London on the western side, not very far from the River Thames.

The very first stone buildings were built by King Henry II in 1170. But over time, King Edward III, who was also born and raised in this castle, destroyed a large number of buildings that were built by Henry. In 1350, King Edward III started build your own so-called Round Castle. It was located in the center of the fortress itself. This building has survived until today, but, however, it changed several times.

As for St. George's Chapel, the main church of the complex, it began to be built during the reign of Edward IV and was built entirely under the government of King Henry VIII, approximately 1509-1547. By the way, Henry was buried under this chapel, and nine other British monarchs also lie there.

The most beautiful episode in the history of Windsor Castle is the time of the English Civil War. At this time, the castle was captured by Liver Roundhead's troops and was used as a fortress and home for the entire army. Monarch Charles I, who at that time ruled the castle, was imprisoned, and soon buried here.

It was only in 1660 that the monarchy was restored again. Charles II started taking active actions regarding the reconstruction and expansion of the castle territory. He built many beautiful alleys that delight visitors today.

After Charles II died, all monarchs, right up to George III, preferred to use other castles and palaces in England for their residence. And only when the son of George III, George IV, came to the government, the final and most significant restoration of the fortress began. The years of George's government are not significant - 1820-1830. Its architects turned the ancient castle into a wonderful and unique palace in the Gothic style, which has survived to this day. The architects working on the restoration of the fortress increased the height of all the towers and added some decorative elements that unite the buildings built in different eras.

Windsor Castle - facts, description, photos

Windsor Castle has become a symbol of the power of Great Britain. King Henry and his wife Adela became the first royal family, who used the castle as a residence. King Charles I was executed here and buried in St. George's Chapel. The famous "Widow of Windsor" - Queen Victoria spent time in this castle last years of her life, mourning her husband Albert.

Its park areas still remember young princes and princesses, children of kings, frolicking on the lawns, and the walls of the apartments silently preserve the history of intrigues and conspiracies taking place in the alcoves of English kings.

The Amazing History of Windsor

Medieval Windsor Castle, like Tower of London, is the creation of William I the Conqueror, designed in the 11th century by the architect Hugh May. After the capture of England, William was actively involved in the construction of defensive structures in the country in order to strengthen his precarious position and protect himself from the attacks of enemies eager to take possession of the crown, following the example of William himself.

Windsor Castle became another defensive fortress of the suspicious king. For its construction, one of the most elevated places in the city of Windsor was chosen, but William did not stop there and ordered the construction of an artificial hill of limestone, from the height of which approaching enemy troops could be seen from afar. At first, the fortress was built of wood and served the purpose of an outpost from which vigilant surveillance was carried out. When the enemy appeared, the fortress messenger immediately rushed to London and notified royal army about the impending attack. At the same time, an impressive underground passage was dug in the fortress, through which the defenders of Windsor could get out of the castle during the siege and deliver an unexpected blow to the enemy.

Wilhelm's plan was a success: for thousand-year history existence, the castle fulfilled its strategic mission in full, repelling enemy attacks. Only once did it fail and was captured in the 17th century by the revolutionary Oliver Cromwell, who overthrew King Charles I. The king was executed by order of Cromwell and buried on the castle grounds.

In the 12th century, a stone fortress was built instead of a wooden outpost, which marked the beginning of the full-scale construction and expansion of Windsor Castle by subsequent rulers of England. In those same years, the castle began to be used by members of the royal families as a country residence.

Most big castle in the world

Centuries later, Windsor gained fame as the largest castle in the world: every ruler of England considered it his duty to add something of his own to the castle. The castle was rebuilt many times and supplemented with new buildings and decorative elements, and some towers were completely destroyed by order of the monarchs. The palace of Henry III, which Edward III did not like, has not survived to this day. Having demolished the creation of his predecessor, Edward ordered the construction of a new palace.

However, Edward's blasphemy was justified in another area. The king became the founder of the Order of the Garter - one of the oldest knightly orders Great Britain. He organized the knighting at Windsor Palace, a tradition that remains unchanged today: every summer, Queen Elizabeth II presents new knights who replace the old ones with the symbols of the legendary order - a garter and a star.

Due to the disparate tastes of the kings who inherited the crown for 10 last centuries, Windsor Castle could have turned out to be pretentious, but this did not happen. Thanks to King George IV, who gave the castle a unified romantic style, Windsor today impresses tourists with its medieval splendor outside and luxury inside. What is the value of the chapel of St. George, decorated with jewelry, gold and silver!

Or the rich hall of the saint, where the heraldic symbols of the Order of the Garter adorn the ceiling! Or the Round Tower, which not every tourist can access!

And what park areas and gardens are located around royal castle- they can give odds to any parks in Europe! What can we say about the royal chambers, which have never been visited by tourists: members of the royal family live in the apartments and only distinguished guests can visit them by special invitation.

However, this is not a reason to be upset: in a huge castle Measuring 580 x 165 meters, there are plenty of rooms with impressive art galleries and royal relics for visitors to explore.

Windsor Castle was improved until Queen Elizabeth II, who also contributed to the history of the castle.

In 1992, the palace suffered a terrible fire, which was not immediately extinguished. The fire damaged many rooms of the castle and completely destroyed 9 halls, some of which had to be modified during restoration, since it was not possible to restore their previous appearance and decoration. Fortunately, after a few years all the repair work was completed and not a trace of the former fire remained in the castle.

Maria's dollhouse was also damaged in the fire - a real miracle of art of the early 20th century, which would be incredibly difficult to reproduce again. The dollhouse reproduces the life of the royal family of King George V, who is like two peas in a pod like the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The striking similarity between the two monarchs is easily explained: they were cousins.

Maria's dollhouse has over 40 rooms. All the tiny rooms repeat every detail of the palace rooms to the smallest detail: small paintings identical to the originals hang on the walls, painted boxes and real tiny books from water tap water is flowing... In the evenings, the lights come on in all the rooms of the dollhouse, which is not at all surprising, since the house has electricity.

Maria's amazing dollhouse is decorated with a large, charming garden in which flowers, trees grow, small carts, shovels and other tools necessary for doll gardeners to care for the huge park area. This garden is hidden in a niche under the house and is put on display at the request of tourists.

Ghosts of Windsor Castle

A third of English people believe in the existence of ghosts and claim that Windsor is haunted.
They say that the ghost of King Henry VIII wanders in the alcoves of the castle, who took upon himself the sin of murdering his two wives: he executed Anne Boleyn and Kate Howard. IN last days During his life, Henry suffered from gluttony and died in painful agony, so his ghost makes moans. The ghost of Anne Boleyn also visits Windsor Castle. The executed queen is always silent and carries her severed head in her hands.

The ghost of King George III, who suffered from severe hereditary disease, was noticed by ordinary people in the office in which he whiled away his last years. Georg by that time was already completely blind and mentally insane, so he was kept locked up.

The listed ghosts are not the only ones in the castle; there are other deceased kings among them. However, many Englishmen deny the very fact of the existence of ghosts, considering them the fruit of the wild imagination of people amazed by the grandeur and pomp of Windsor Castle.

Tourist information

To have time to see the sights of Windsor Castle, you need to go on an excursion in the morning. Tickets to the castle are sold in two places: at the castle ticket office and at the ticket office railway stations. To avoid wasting time standing in queues, it is better to purchase tickets for the excursion in advance.

The first attraction that will catch tourists' eyes when entering the castle is the Round Tower. If Queen Elizabeth II is in her favorite palace, then her royal standard will develop on the tower. There is no point in being upset if there is no standard: in any case, not a single tourist will be able to see the queen in the castle. She stops by Windsor Palace through a separate gate, and the excursions are planned in such a way that it is impossible to cross paths with the Queen of Great Britain.

The guards, whom everyone who comes to Windsor Castle will see, carefully monitor discipline and order on the castle grounds. Tourists need to know that in the royal residence it is not customary to make noise or take photographs without permission, otherwise there is a risk of incurring the disfavor of law enforcement officers. But the close attention of the royal guard will pay off handsomely when tourists see a breathtaking picture of the changing of the guard: for the British this is an important ceremony.

After visiting St. George's Chapel, the palace apartments and other delightful attractions of the castle, tourists can take a stroll in the magnificent parks of Windsor.

Tours of Windsor are conducted daily, and an audio guide to the castle in Russian can be purchased along with entrance tickets at the castle ticket office.

Windsor is a symbol of the country's power and sovereignty

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge in a thousand years. There have been 9 royal dynasties at Windsor Castle, each of which has done a lot to ensure that Windsor Castle acquires modern luxury and grandeur.

The last ruling Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty went further than all its ancestors and not only contributed to the reconstruction of the castle, but also officially renamed itself the Windsor dynasty, paying tribute to Windsor Castle and officially establishing it as a symbol of the power and sovereignty of the country. Direct descendants of the Windsor dynasty include Queen Elizabeth II and Crown Prince Charles, who consider Windsor Castle to be their favorite country home and the living embodiment of a millennium history of the kingdom.

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 royal court and a diplomatic entertainment center. 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 most Windsor Castle with the help of 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 several minor changes at the castle, which became the center of royal entertainment for much of her reign.

Where is Windsor Castle?

Windsor is an hour's drive west of London, 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport. The English royal residence stands on a ridge on the northeastern edge 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. No wonder the castle became popular tourist place 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 original version, built by William the Conqueror.

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

On north side The lower house contains 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 the most valuable works of art were moved away, and royal bedrooms were fortified in case of a siege. 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:

1. 1265 - Lord Mayor, named FitzThomas.
2. 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.
3. 1413 - Earl of March and Prince James (later James I) of Scotland were imprisoned at Windsor.
4. 1546 - Poet, Earl of Surrey.
5. 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.