Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a castle in the small town of Windsor, the residence of British monarchs. For nearly 1,000 years, the castle has been an enduring symbol of the monarchy, perched on a hill in the Thames River valley.
General information
The silhouette of the castle is known to everyone in the country, especially the large Round Tower, on which the royal standard flies during the stay of kings here.
.The first castle was built of timber after the Norman Conquest on a rise above the Thames. It was one day’s journey from it to William I’s main residence at the Tower of London. The first of the kings to live at Windsor was Henry II, who rebuilt the castle in stone around 1165
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Upper Court
This part of the castle contains 13th-century buildings, including the Waterloo Chamber of 1832, built to commemorate the victory at Waterloo. It is also home to St. George’s Hall, built between 1362 and 1365. It was badly damaged in a fire but has since been rebuilt. The royal apartments are full of real treasures: paintings by Canaletto, Van Dyck, Hans Holbein, Rembrandt, Rubens, Hogarth, Gainsborough and Constable. Visitors enjoy viewing Queen Mary’s doll’s house, specially made in 1923 by Edwin Lachens on a 1:12 scale, with miniature books and paintings, electric lighting and plumbing.
.Lower courtyard
Of all the buildings in the castle, the most impressive is the Gothic Chapel of St. George, built in 1475-1528, with its fine stone carvings and vaulted roof.
.The Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, has 24 members. Their tall carved chairs stand in the chapel beneath their personal banners and coats of arms. Ten monarchs are buried here, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, the beheaded Charles I, George V and George VI.
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In 1861, the 13th-century chapel was restored and named Albert Memorial Chapel in memory of Queen Victoria’s favorite husband, the Prince Consort. There are also other buildings and a signal tower.
.Great Park and Eton
The 200 hectares of Great Windsor Park are covered with a network of walking paths. The classic rose gardens, covering 14 hectares, hedges of evergreens and luxuriant deciduous trees are very striking.
A footbridge spanning the Thames north of the city leads to Eton, where you can see boys in cylinders and tails from Eton College. It is the most privileged school in the country, founded in 1440. 18 of its graduates became prime ministers.
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