The Palace of Windsor is the oldest inhabited castle in the world. The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, spend the entire weekend there. This is the Queen's favorite country home.
Royal couple at Windsor Palace
History of Windsor Castle
The history of Windsor Castle dates back to the time of William the Conqueror. Windsor was one of a chain of fortresses built by the Normans to hold the conquered Saxon lands. It was built in the 1070s. William successfully chose a location for the castle high above the Thames, which at that time was the most important transport route to London. He built Windsor, one day's journey from London, which allowed him, in the event of a crisis, to quickly take refuge in a fortress ready for defense and controlling the approach to the capital from the sea. 
External walls and earth embankment under the fortifications have not changed their place since the 12th century. A century later, from 1165 to 1179, Henry II rebuilt the fortress at Windsor. He destroyed the wooden palisade surrounding the upper fortress, erected stone walls reinforced with square towers, and built the King's Gate. Over the next two centuries, the monarchs continued to gradually develop Windsor Fortress.
Main staircase Although Windsor was one of the places where English monarchs lived for a long time, it was only with the rise of Edward III that the idea arose to build a castle that would be a symbol of the power of royal power. In total, Edward III spent more than 22 million pounds at current prices on the renovation of the castle. He created the majestic St. George's Hall, in which the knights of the Order of the Garter, which he had recently founded, gathered. Edward IV began construction of the chapel in 1461, but did not have time to complete it.
Chapel of St. George The Tudor monarchs also took part in the reconstruction of the castle. King Henry VII erected a memorial to his Lancastrian predecessor, Henry VI, which attracted pilgrims who believed the murdered king was a martyr saint. King Henry VIII added a tennis court and redesigned the chapel where he is buried with his third wife and the mother of his only son. The chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of the Order of the Garter, St. George. It represents one of the most beautiful examples of Perpendicular (late medieval) Gothic architecture in England.
The chapel is the official home of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious institution of knighthood in England. Members of the order display a banner in the chapel depicting their heraldic coat of arms, personal crest, sword and helmet. When a knight of the order dies, the insignia is returned to the monarch, but the coat of arms remains in the chapel.
The castle was damaged and plundered during the English Civil War in the mid-17th century. Oliver Cromwell captured Windsor Castle in 1642, and made it the headquarters of the parliamentary forces and a prison. King Charles was imprisoned in this prison until his execution in London. His body was then returned for burial at St. George's Chapel.
Round Tower Following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, the King's cousin, Prince Rupert, was given the post of Constable of Windsor Castle and was commissioned to restore the castle in a Baroque style, following the example of the Palace of Versailles of King Louis XIV of France. In the 1670s, the architect Hugh May created new royal chambers, the walls of which were painted with frescoes by the Italian artist Antonio Verrio. The Dining Room, the Court Chambers and the Queen's Hall still retain many elements of the original decoration. Charles II also created a 5 km walk from the castle to Windsor Great Park. 
George I loved Windsor Castle more than the palaces of St. James, Hampton Court and Kensington. George II, on the other hand, rarely lived in Windsor, preferring Hampton Court. Many apartments in the Upper Tower were allocated as housing for famous widows or friends of the crown. By the 1740s, visitors were being given the opportunity to tour the Palace of Windsor for a fee. In 1753, the first guide to Windsor appeared.
Eastern corridor Strangely, the third king, named George, took a liking to Windsor again. He moved his family to the castle, so visitor access was limited.
The palace was reconstructed once again during the reign of King George IV, who persuaded Parliament to grant him three hundred thousand pounds for this purpose. (Equivalent to £245 million in twenty-first century currency). Architect Geoffrey Wyattville gave the State Apartments a new grand entrance and staircase, and added a colossal waterloo hall, dedicated to the victory over Bonaparte. The hall is hung with portraits of monarchs, soldiers, statesmen who participated in Napoleonic wars. Among them, portraits of the Duke of Wellington, Field Marshal von Blücher, the emperors of Austria and Russia, the kings of England, Prussia and France and Pope Pius VII. The walls of the hall are covered with panels, most of which was created in the 1680s for the old royal chapel by the famous master Grinling Gibbons and his assistants. After the destruction of the chapel, the panels were moved to Waterloo Hall. The carpet lying on the floor was woven by prisoners at Agra Prison for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1894. It is the largest seamless carpet in the world, weighing two tons. During the 1992 fire, it took fifty soldiers to roll it up and move it to safety.
Waterloo Hall George IV had good taste and a love of theatrics. At his request, during the 1820s, the appearance of the castle was completely changed. In accordance with the fashion trends of that time, the castle has a romantic, picturesque appearance that exists today. It was at this time that Windsor Palace acquired the appearance of a Gothic castle with a battlemented fortress wall and turrets. 
At the same time, new living rooms were created in the palace on sunny eastern and southern sides castle The project was completed in 1830, the year of George's death. The State Apartments are filled with beautiful works of art from the royal collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto.
The rooms were heavily damaged by a fire in 1992. During the restoration, the original designs approved by George IV were used. Currently, they have completely returned to their original appearance.
Dark red living room Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also considered Windsor Castle their primary residence, despite Victoria's complaints that the palace was "dull and tiresome" and "like a prison." When Prince Albert died of typhus in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle in 1861, Queen Victoria plunged the palace into mourning for many years. Only towards the end of her reign did entertainment begin to appear in the castle again, combining the queen's desire to have fun with the fear that it would be noticed by her subjects.
Green living room Edward VII ascended the throne in 1901 and immediately set about modernizing Windsor Castle with "enthusiasm and interest". Many of the rooms in the Upper Tower, sealed after the death of the Prince Consort, were opened, relics were moved to a special room in the Round Tower, and the rooms themselves were completely reconstructed. George V continued the process of gradual modernization of the palace.
Main entrance When George V decided to replace German surnames and royal family names with English ones during the First World War, he was inspired by Windsor Castle and its royal history. One of England's most successful medieval kings, Edward III, was born in the castle and was known as "Edward Windsor". In 1917, the royal family officially changed their surname to Windsor, identifying themselves with the historic castle. 
At the beginning of World War II in 1939, the castle was fortified. Many staff from Buckingham Palace have moved to Windsor for greater security. It was believed that the king and queen were constantly in Buckingham Palace, but this is not so. In the evenings they left central London for the safety of Windsor, where Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret lived. 
Queen Elizabeth II (the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror) made no significant changes to the castle until the 1992 fire. The fire started in the chapel on November 20th and quickly spread throughout the castle. Nine government apartments were damaged in the fire. Firefighters had to douse everything with water to contain the flames. Some works of art were also damaged in the fire. Renovating the palace was said to cost more than £40 million.
Gallery at the Palace of Windsor Unlike George IV, Elizabeth II failed to obtain a parliamentary grant to restore Windsor Castle. Prime Minister John Major's proposal to pay for repairs by public funds, since the palace is the property of the state, was very unpopular and led to demands for changes financial situation monarchy. The British demanded that the restoration of Windsor Castle be financed from the private income of the royal family. Ultimately the Queen paid for the repairs from own income and income from opening rooms at Buckingham Palace to visitors. Windsor Castle was reopened to the public in 1997.
Modern life at Windsor Castle
Nowadays, Windsor Castle is often used for holding state events instead of Buckingham Palace.
Each year, the Queen spends about a month at Windsor Palace during Easter. During this time, the Queen receives guests, including politicians and public figures.
The Queen is also here for a week in June when she attends a meeting of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Horse Races at Ascot.
Badge of the Order of the Garter The senior ranks of the order take part in the ceremony of the Order of the Garter. It begins in St. George's Chapel. Then, in the hall of the order, the queen initiates new knights, ending with a royal dinner for the Knights of the Garter in the Waterloo Chamber of the castle. The table is set with a magnificent gilded silver service for fifty to sixty guests, who are entertained by a musical ensemble playing on the balcony.
Windsor Palace is often used by the Queen to host state visits from foreign monarchs and presidents. Chapters foreign countries enter the castle in a carriage through the George IV gate into the upper courtyard, where they are greeted by guard of honor. The state banquet takes place in the St. George's Hall (55.5 m long and 9 m wide) at a table that can accommodate up to 160 guests.
Royal Guard Parade at Windsor St. George's Chapel holds daily services open to all. Many royal weddings have been celebrated in the chapel. IN last time it was the June 1999 wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. Ten British monarchs are buried in the chapel: Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, George IV, William IV, Edward VII, George V and George VI.
The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William dressed as Knights of the Order of the Garter The Palace of Windsor is a popular UK attraction. The state apartments, the chapel of St. George, the surrounding area and the courtyards inside the castle are open to visitors. When the Queen is in Windsor, you can watch the colorful spectacle of the changing of the guard.
The best time to visit Windsor Castle is between October and March, when the private chambers created for George IV are open. These rooms have the most ornate interiors in the castle and are used by the Queen for formal occasions.
Windsor Castle Map The palace houses Queen Mary's Doll's House. Built by leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1921 and 1924, it is a miniature replica of an aristocratic home. The doll's house is filled with thousands of objects made by leading artists, designers and craftsmen, in 1:12 scale. In the Doll House you can turn on electricity, hot and cold water, elevators and toilets.
Tourist Information
The castle is open to visitors throughout the year, except on holidays. From March to October from 9-45 to 17-15, from November to February from 9-45 to 16-15.
Tickets cost £18.50 for adults, £16.75 for seniors and students and £11.00 for children under 17.
A ticket purchased directly from the Royal Collection Trust can be converted into an annual pass for the location you visit.
To do this you need:
1. Before leaving the castle grounds, write your name in the space indicated on the ticket.
2. Give the ticket to the administrator, who will stamp it and stamp the date of the first visit.
How to get to Windsor Castle
By train:
As you can see on the map, there are two railway stations in Windsor, located approximately the same distance from the castle, Windsor and Eaton Central (or Windsor Royal Station) and Windsor and Eaton Central.
Windsor Map There is a direct train to Windsor and Eaton Central station every 30 minutes from Waterloo station. The duration of the trip is a little over an hour.
Windsor and Eaton Central can be reached from Paddington Station with one change at Slough for the same journey duration.
By bus:
The line to Windsor is operated by Greenline Service from Victoria Station. Travel time – 1 hour.
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: over the thousand-year history of its 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 has not survived to this day Henry III, which Edward III did not like. 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 orders of chivalry in 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 spread 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 everything renovation work ended 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 king's ghost haunts the alcoves of the castle. Henry VII I, 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 enters 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 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 their favorite country house and the living embodiment of the thousand-year history of the kingdom.
There are a huge number of ancient, beautiful castles in Great Britain. We mainly know the castles of Scotland and Wales, which is not so developed in terms of tourism. But in England there are several very interesting and ancient castles. The main one is, of course, the ancient summer residence of the royal family - Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle is located just 20 kilometers from London, so we couldn’t help but visit it during our New Year’s trip.
You can get to Windsor by train from Paddington or Waterloo stations.
The city is located on the picturesque banks of the Thames and has long been loved by the royal family. Windsor was founded by William the Conqueror. It is believed that already in the 12th century, Windsor Castle, which is the main attraction of the city, was built of stone. At that time, such buildings, even for royal residences, were quite rare. Each subsequent English monarch rebuilt the castle and added new halls. So, over almost 900 centuries of its existence, Windsor Castle has accumulated many royal relics and acquired the appearance that it has now.
I was immediately struck by the amazing similarity between Windsor Castle and the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. This is not surprising, since the architect according to whose design the Vorontsov Palace was built, Edward Blore, also took part in the next reconstruction of Windsor Castle.
Windsor reached its greatest prosperity during the Middle Ages: kings spent huge fortunes on this city, due to which the well-being of ordinary townspeople also increased. Also closely connected with Windsor is the history of the emergence of one of the oldest knightly orders in Great Britain - the Order of the Garter, which appeared in 1348. King Edward III was passionate about the history of knights, and even planned to build a special room in Windsor Castle where it would be possible to recreate round table legendary king Arthur.
Once at a ball he danced with a noble lady who dropped her garter. Edward III picked it up and tied it on his arm. Immediately after this he announced the creation knightly order garter, which will be awarded to the most worthy representatives of the kingdom. The symbol of the order was the blue ribbon, to which was later added the sign of St. George, who is the patron saint of all warriors. This high award Almost all Russian emperors, starting with Alexander I, were honored.
They say that at one time Peter I refused such an honor because he believed that in this way he became a British subject. The ceremonial knighting of this order is still held every June in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. King Henry VIII is buried in this cathedral along with the mother of his only son, Jane Seymour. Prince Albert was later buried here. By the way, the currently ruling royal dynasty is named after this amazing place, Windsor.
As soon as you move a little away from the station, you can see a monument to Queen Victoria in a small square near the high walls of the castle. It was installed in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of her reign. The place was not chosen by chance. Here she and Prince Albert spent their Honeymoon, they spent a lot of time in this castle, and later, after the death of her husband, the dowager queen finally moved to Windsor. She traveled to London only on business.
In the mid-19th century, part of the royal chambers was opened to the public.
Despite the fact that some time later Windsor was forgotten by the monarchs, during the Second World War the little princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were brought here. They waited in this castle for difficult times for the whole world, while their parents remained in London and tried to support their people. Upon her accession to the throne, Elizabeth II announced that Windsor Castle would be her weekend residence; now she spends quite a lot of time there and even receives important guests.
Entrance to the castle grounds costs around £20. At first we had to wait in a short line because there are quite a lot of tourists in Windsor. The ticket comes with an audio guide in Russian, which made our visit to the castle very interesting.
After we passed through the castle gates, the ancient Round Tower appeared in front of us. This is one of the few buildings in Windsor that has survived from the Middle Ages. When Elizabeth II arrives at the castle, the royal flag is raised over the Round Tower. After a long reconstruction, it was finally made accessible to tourists and now from its walls you can admire views of the city and the park.
The tower also contains a bell made in Moscow and captured by British troops during Crimean War in the Sevastopol. It only calls when the monarch dies.
From the platform near the palace there is a stunning panorama of the surrounding area.
Then we went into the halls accessible to tourists. Most of them are still used by the royal family. Of course, visitors are not allowed into the queen’s bedrooms and private rooms, but other rooms can be explored.
The luxury of the palace and the number of rooms amazes even sophisticated tourists. Original paintings by the most famous artists, antique furniture, expensive dishes and decorative items, ancient authentic royal armor, all this can be seen inside Windsor Castle.
But the most memorable thing in my memory is Queen Mary's doll's house. Probably, houses for Barbie dolls were later copied from it. But of course, they are a thousand times more modest than the original.
This layout is typical English home of a wealthy family was created in 1923 on a scale of 1:12. A huge number of different craftsmen worked on the creation of the dollhouse. The result was a real working house with electricity, water supply, garage, garden and elevators. All mechanisms work, and decorative items are made of natural materials: there are real silver dishes on the tables, silk curtains on the windows, and the stairs are made of natural marble. For children, this is the most impressive part of a visit to Windsor Castle.
In addition, during our trip, the castle hosted a photo exhibition “Marcus Adams - Royal Photographer”. This master has photographed more than one generation of the royal family. The exhibition featured photographs of the Duke and Duchess of York, parents of Queen Elizabeth II. The photos were taken at a time when they did not yet know that they would become the king and queen of Great Britain. Photos of their young daughters Elizabeth and Margaret were also exhibited. And later the same photographer photographed little Charles and his sister Anna. We really liked these old photos, which convey a warm family atmosphere.
We then walked around the courtyard of Windsor Castle, watched the changing of the guard, admired the grand St George's Chapel and headed into the city.
After having a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in Windsor, we realized that we no longer had the energy to visit the outskirts of this town.
Several views of modern Windsor.
After all, you can cross the bridge to the other side of the Thames and reach the elite Eton College. This is a privileged school for boys, founded in the 15th century. Princes William and Harry studied at Eton College.
There are also buses from Windsor train stations to playground Legoland. But you definitely won’t be able to visit all these fascinating places in one day.
Therefore, it is better to set aside a couple of days for Windsor if you plan to visit all its attractions. We were also quite impressed by a walk through Windsor Castle with its luxurious interiors full of the most outstanding works of art. I think you should definitely come here to get the most full view about the history of England and the life of the royal family.
Buy a tour to the castle, hot springs and Stone Henge online
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Windsor Castle is the most beautiful and largest castle in Great Britain, owned by the royal family and is their country residence. The castle is located in the city of Windsor, Berkshire, 43 km from London. The residence is an architectural gem and a concentration of cultural treasures in Great Britain. Along with, Windsor Castle is one of the most visited attractions in Foggy Albion.
History of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is located on a hill - it offers a magnificent panorama of the Thames. The residence began its history under William the Conqueror in 1066. At that time, Windsor Castle was located on the hunting grounds and looked like a wooden structure. His goal was to keep surveillance of one of the roads towards London.
Over the course of 100 years, the building was subject to numerous redevelopments and reconstructions. The most significant changes occurred during the reign of Henry II Plantagenet. During his reign the first stone walls were erected. After this, each subsequent ruler necessarily made his own changes to the appearance of the castle. Thanks to this, we can observe a variety of paintings, frescoes, tapestries that reflect the history of monarchical rule of various eras.
In 1386, the wedding of the first Portuguese King The Avis dynasty of John I with the daughter of John of Gaunt, Philippa of Lancaster. This marked the beginning of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, which lasted until the mid-20th century.
On November 20, 1992, Windsor Castle suffered a fire. The fire broke out in the chapel, the fire quickly spread throughout the residence, and could not be extinguished for 15 hours. By the way, on this day royal couple celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. As a result of the fire, an area of 9,000 sq.m. was damaged. The amount of damage amounted to more than 37 million pounds sterling.
To restore Windsor, they decided to open Buckingham Palace to tourists, so all proceeds from tickets went towards repairs. The work was carried out over five years, during which time half of the damaged rooms were restored - some of them were restored to their previous appearance, and some received a new look, but in accordance with the general style. This event was the largest restoration in the history of Windsor Castle.
Excursion to Windsor Castle: what's inside
Today, everyone has access to many buildings and rooms of the palace. From the first seconds, the gates of Henry VII amaze with their grandeur. Next, visitors enter the halls, the Throne Room, and the royal apartments. Here you can see numerous paintings by Anthony van Dyck, Rubens, George Stubbs and others.
Chapel of St. George
You cannot ignore the Chapel of St. George (The College of St. George), which is the main temple of the Knights of the Order of the Garter. The shrine was erected by the monarch Edward III in 1348. This building Gothic style is a striking example of English architecture of the Middle Ages. Today St. George's Chapel belongs to the Anglican Church. 35 members of the royal family are buried here, including Charles I, George VI, and Queen Mother Elizabeth.
Queen Mary's Doll's House
Another interesting thing worth seeing here is Queen Mary's Doll's House. Queen Mary (grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II), wife of George V, was famous for collecting and loving art. One day, the king's cousin, Princess Marie-Louise, presented the queen with an unusually beautiful dollhouse. Although it is difficult to call it a “house”, since the dimensions of the product are 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 m, the scale is 1:12.
The doll's house was made in 1921-1924. by the eminent architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The best also had a hand in it English masters miniatures and artists. In total, about 1,500 craftsmen worked on the project. In particular, the following took part: famous writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and Alan Milne, who wrote short stories for the mini-library.
In addition to the library, in the doll's house you can see wine Vault with bottles of wine, champagne and other drinks; copies of original paintings, a magnificent piano; “underground” parking with motorcycles and limousines; chapel with icons; knight's armor and even an outdoor garden in front of the entrance, designed by garden designer Gertrude Jekyll.
The project was commissioned and exhibited at the British Imperial Exhibition to stimulate local crafts and trade. More than one and a half million people saw the Royal Doll's House.
Round Tower
When visiting the residence, be sure to try to climb the Round Tower. She is the most high point Windsor Castle - the height is more than 60 m. You are allowed to take only a bottle of water and a camera with you to the tower; bags and backpacks must be left below.
Typically, you should plan around 3 hours for a tour of Windsor Castle.
How does Windsor Castle live?
Windsor Castle is used for various state events. Every year the Queen comes here for a month after Easter. At this time she receives guests, public and politicians. The Queen is also at Windsor Castle for several days in June to attend Royal Ascot and The Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Guyanese President David Granger and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain at Windsor Castle (April 2017)
At a meeting of the Order of the Garter, the senior ranks of the order are present. The ceremony begins in St. George's Chapel. Next, in the Hall of the Order, the Queen initiates new knights, presenting the ceremonial garter and star of the order. The event ends with lunch in the Waterloo Chamber.
While the Queen is in the castle, you can watch the changing of the guard of honor.
Tourist Information
Address: Windsor SL4 1NJ, UK
Ticket prices:
- adults - £21.20;
- people over 60 and students - £19.30;
- children under 17 years of age and disabled people - £12.30;
- children under 5 years old - free;
- families (2 adults and up to 3 children under 17) - £54.70.
*Tickets can be purchased at the box office or in advance on the official website of Windsor Castle: www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle.
**If you didn’t have time to see everything or want to visit the residence again, you can do so using the same ticket by placing the appropriate stamp upon exit. The ticket is valid for a calendar year.
How to get there
You can get to Windsor Castle from London in the following ways:
By train
From Waterloo Station to Windsor & Eton Riverside Station. Trains leave every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 1 hour. From Windsor & Eton Riverside Station it is a 10 minute walk to the castle. The ticket price is €12.65 (2018).
From Paddington station to Windsor & Eton Central can be reached in 25-40 minutes, but with a change at Slough. The train arrives directly at the castle walls. The ticket price is €21.69 (1st class) or €12.53 (2nd class). Prices are also for 2018.
By bus
Bus number 702 departs from Victoria Station to Windsor and is operated by the Green Line carrier. The bus arrives at the Royal Theatre, from where the castle is a 5-minute walk. Return ticket prices are €21.45 before noon and €12.87 after noon. Travel time is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Windsor Castle on a map of Windsor
Windsor Castle is the most beautiful and largest castle in Great Britain, owned by the royal family and is their country residence. The castle is located in the city of Windsor, Berkshire, 43 km from London. The residence is an architectural gem and a concentration of cultural treasures in Great Britain. Along with
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 to palace intrigues and conspiracies, the conclusion of peace and declarations of war, loyalty and betrayal, which ultimately affected 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 is a kind of history of 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 hill had noticeably subsided, the wooden fortress had collapsed, and the king ordered the construction of a stone one 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 English Revolution XVII 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. In front of the altar lie the remains of 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, superstructure of the XIX century), 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 in the 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 Windsor Palace— Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482), Queen Consort of England under King Henry VI in 1445-1461 and 1470-1471, when, due to her husband’s bouts of mental illness, she was involved in state affairs. 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 prompted by popular outrage caused by the first ever bombing of London on May 25, 1917 by 23 German Gotha G. IV bombers. Having learned of the English crown's refusal to use the "German sound" of the dynasty's name, 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 marine.
Mild winter warm summer. average temperature January: +5°C.
Average July temperature: +18°C.
Average annual precipitation: 600 mm.