Interesting facts about Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle - residence of the royal family

If you come to London in winter, spring or early summer, you are unlikely to be able to get into Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth goes on vacation to Scotland in August and September, and uses the palace as an office the rest of the time. However, do not be upset: 40 minutes drive from London is my favorite British palace - Windsor Castle. I’ll tell you about it today.

An ancient fortress, the real home of the queen and the estate that gave the name to the last generations of reigning monarchs. You can get here all year round, with the exception of days of ceremonial receptions. And you won’t even guess that the queen is nearby...

When you approach Windsor, the castle appears in all its beauty from afar: located on a hill, it is unlike any of the London palaces.

A medieval fortress made of light brick with the flag of Great Britain (or the standard of the Queen, if she is at home) will capture your attention and imagination even on the approaches to it. And no wonder: Windsor is considered the oldest and largest residential castle in the world.

From the history

Windsor Castle was built in 1070. More precisely, William the Conqueror ordered the creation of an artificial hill and the construction of a wooden fort, a simple observation post, on it. A hundred years later, Henry of Anjou decides to surround the building with stone walls and erect the Round Tower, and almost two centuries later, King Edward III orders the fortress to be rebuilt, the hill strengthened and a defensive ditch dug. However, the last idea failed, because the hill was artificial, and all the water flowed into the Thames.

The history of the creation of the Order of the Garter is also connected with the name of Edward III. In general, it must be said that this king tried to live by the code of chivalry. Edward organized meetings of knights in the Round Tower of the castle at a round table, maintaining the traditions of the semi-mythical King Arthur. Meetings of members of this Order are still held in Windsor. True, they moved from the Tower to the main building of the palace.

The castle was rebuilt, updated and restored more than once. The first period of prosperity occurred in the 14th–15th centuries. Then Elizabeth I gave diplomatic receptions here.

In 1648, Cromwell and his army captured the castle and executed Charles I here, burying him right there. However, the son of the murdered man, Charles II, returned to power 12 years later and took up the castle in earnest: new buildings were built, the model for which was the Palace of Versailles in France, and extensive parks and gardens were laid out around the estate. However, then, for unknown reasons, the castle was forgotten for almost another 2 centuries, until in 1820 George IV ascended the throne, and during his short 10-year reign he once again reconstructed and expanded the castle, returning it to its former glory.

From this moment on, Windsor Castle became the favorite family residence of monarchs. Queen Victoria and her heirs lived here: King Edward VII, his son George V. During the Second World War and the bombing of London, George VI and his wife were in London during the day, at Buckingham Palace, supporting the townspeople with their presence, and in the evening they left for Windsor to his daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

When, after the First World War, the question of a German name arose ruling dynasty, George V changed his surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor, after the name of the family estate.

The castle was not accessible to the public until 1992, when a fire accidentally broke out in the Semi-State Rooms while celebrating the 45th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The fire was put out for almost a day. After this, it was decided to open access to the castle on a regular basis, at least to obtain funds for repairs.

How to get there

Bus: from Victoria Coach Station (Buckingham Palace Road) daily to number 702 (Greenline company). Travel time is about 1 hour.

In Windsor, the bus stops right next to the castle, it’s impossible to miss it. The cost there and back is 15.4 EUR (15 GBP). If you take a one-way ticket, it will be 11.6 EUR (10 GBP), so take it straight there and back.

Car: M4 Exit 6 and M3 Exit 3. The distance from London to Windsor is 38 km, travel time is 55 minutes. Please note that there is no separate parking near the castle, so you will have to park somewhere in the town. You can find parking in advance at.

Railway:

from London Waterloo station to Windsor & Eton Riverside station (direct journey takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes);
from London Paddington Station to Windsor & Eton Central with a change at Slough (30-45 mins).

My favorite way to get to Windsor is Railway. I always leave Paddington station around 9:00. You can go to the machine to get your ticket, but I prefer the ticket office. It’s nice to hear “Yes, ma’am!” once again, and to avoid misunderstandings with credit cards and other things when time is running out.

At the ticket office we immediately ask for a ticket to Windsor (the ticket will be a single ticket, that is, immediately with a transfer). It’s profitable to take it back and forth (out & return), it’s cheaper. The cost is approximately 12.2 EUR (10.5 GBP), depending on the train load.

Drive from the station to the station. Slough, where you need to make a transfer, approximately 20–30 minutes. Changing trains is not as scary as it sounds: you just need to get out onto the platform and go to the other side, where there will be a “cuckoo” - a short train of several cars. It runs every 20 minutes, and if you travel from London on the 9 o'clock train, there will be a gap of about 5 minutes between trains and you will arrive right when the castle opens.

Train SLO - Windsor travel time 6 minutes. On weekends it also stops at Eton station.

On way back in London, when changing at Slow, you will have to cross to another platform, but English crossings are not as high as our railway bridges.

9-hour trains can be either half-empty or overcrowded. Having gone to Windsor with my mother, I suddenly found myself on a crowded train, plus men in their 30s with reserved tickets (that is, you can buy a ticket the day before and reserve a seat for yourself absolutely free, but only for a certain flight. If you are late, the ticket will be valid, but without the exact location). I still don’t understand why people gave up their seats, because there was no electronic “Reserved” sign near the seats.

I turned on all the charm and asked one of them to wait until Slow, because mom was having a hard time standing. Without much joy, he complied with my request. His companions looked puzzled. Unfortunately, equal rights in England have led to the fact that it is not customary to give up your seat to ladies or elders either on the subway or on the train.

On the way from Slow to the place, the castle will appear to you from afar in all its glory more than once. Upon arrival at Windsor Central, you can admire the Queen Victoria Steam Locomotive, which was installed in 1982 during Madame Tussauds' Monarchs and the Railway exhibition. It turned out to be very expensive to dismantle it, and since then the elegant locomotive has greeted everyone who arrived in Windsor.

The station itself has been turned into a small but very beautiful shopping center with cafes and restaurants. After passing through the shopping arcade, you suddenly find yourself on the street right under the castle walls.

We go around the statue of Queen Victoria and go up to the palace. Leave the shops on the right, especially the one in the blue house, for later, don’t repeat my mistakes. I was allowed to carry a large shopping bag with me, but walking around with it was not very convenient :).

Opening hours

On average, you will need 2–3 hours to explore the castle. Please note that the building is ancient, has paved courtyards and is located on a hill with elevation changes.

Open to the public:

In summer (March - October) - daily from 09:30 to 17:30.
In winter (November - February) - daily from 9:45 to 16:15.
Last entry: in summer - at 16:00, in winter - at 15:00.

Since the castle is the real home of the royal family, it may be closed for diplomatic receptions, Easter and Christmas. I recommend checking the opening hours on its official website before visiting.

There is also a possibility that the lock will be closed unexpectedly and in a short time. I have not encountered such urgency, but I believe that in exchange for this you will be offered a return visit for free.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased on site, online, ordered by phone (additional order fee - 2 GBP) or via London Pass.

Price:

Adult - 23.2 EUR (20 GBP).
Preferential (students and people over 60 with supporting documents) - 21.12 EUR (18.20 GBP).
Children under 17 years of age and disabled people - 13.6 EUR (11.70 GBP).
Children under 5 years old are free.
Family (2 adults and 3 children under 17 years old) - 60 EUR (51.70 GBP).

If the State Apartments are closed:

Adult - 12.5 EUR (10.80 GBP).
Preferential (students and people over 60 with supporting documents) - 11.4 EUR (9.80 GBP).
Children under 17 years of age and disabled people - 8 EUR (6.80 GBP).
Children under 5 years old are free.
Family (2 adults and 3 children under 17 years old) - 33 EUR (28.40 GBP).

You can order tickets online.

It is noteworthy that the residents of the town of Windsor itself, whose official name- Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, can visit the castle for free.

You don’t need to pay extra for it if you have London Pass(more about tourist map read on our website). In addition to prepaid admission, LP also provides skip-the-line access. Look for the London Pass sign. This helped us save a lot of time and not get wet in the rain while waiting at the entrance.

If you bought a ticket directly in the palace, then you have the opportunity to come back here again absolutely free during a year. On back side For a ticket, you need to write your name and stamp it with a castle employee at the exit, and you are welcome back to the palace!

Audio guide, excursions and amenities

The audio guide is free, and is also in Russian. My constant advice: if you learn English, train your ears - take a guide in English. Audio and video will have a great impact on your knowledge. Even if you don’t immediately understand what George V said in this corner.

You can book private excursions 2 months in advance. There are many themed excursions in the castle. English language, for example, Great Kitchen based on the castle’s active kitchen, which is more than 750 years old, or “Hike to the Restorers.” Excursions are designed for a group of 15 people and last on average 1.5 hours.

Restrooms are located at the entrance to the castle next to the audio guide distribution point and next to the entrance to the State Rooms. (be careful: there are no WC facilities in the palace).

There are elevators in the palace premises for people with disabilities. However, for a special visit, it is better to contact the palace staff in advance.

Security and other nuances

Because the castle is working house Queen, the level of security here is increased. At the entrance you will have to go through a frame, like at the airport. It is better not to take sharp objects such as scissors (you will have to check them in for a while, like very large bags).

One day I was lucky and was allowed in with a large package of kilts, scarves and other gifts bought near the castle. It's your business, take it for yourself! They let me into the palace, however, I immediately looked at the wardrobe and asked to take my luggage for safekeeping. “Did anyone have a good time shopping today?” - The wardman smiled at me and took the package.

The security kindly asks you not to make noise and be understanding that the tour of the castle follows the arrows in one direction (in fact, you can easily return to the previous point, not everything is so strict if there are few people).

Bringing food and water is prohibited. You can buy water in the castle shops or go out to eat in the city through the lower courtyard and return back through the audio guide issuing point. Unfortunately, there is no cafe inside the castle yet, although they promise to build one on the site of an ancient storeroom.

Photography is only allowed in the castle courtyard. The guards can even tell you best view.

Photography inside the castle and St. George's Chapel is prohibited. Also, no part of Windsor Castle can be used for wedding photo shoots other than royal ones.

Castle grounds

The castle grounds are surrounded by high walls, up to 4 meters thick in places, with towers along the entire perimeter.

The castle is also adjacent to the huge Windsor Park, which I never have time to explore. There is a small estate in the park Frogmore house, where there is a small house and tomb of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The castle is divided into three parts:

Changing of the Guard

If you arrived at the castle in the morning, then at 11:00 your attention will be attracted by the sounds of a military orchestra coming from the Lower Court. Guardsmen in bright red uniforms or blue-gray overcoats will come with an orchestra from the town through the lower gates, play a few tunes, and then the action will freeze. For some time the soldiers will rearrange themselves, shout something, and then stand still again. At this moment, you can see how thick the soles of the guard’s boots are.

To be honest, standing in the wind in the Lower Courtyard is uncomfortable. And everyone also wants to see the guards, so more than once I had to climb on posts or go onto the lawn (it’s a shame, but I also want to see). After about 40 minutes the action comes to life: finally there is a changeover, and to the sounds of the orchestra the guard goes back to the city.

During the summer, the changing of the guard takes place every day except Sunday. In winter - every odd day of the week.

St. George Chapel

The chapel is a wonderful monument of Gothic architecture. Inside it is quite bright and much more spacious than Westminster Abbey, which it actually resembles. In it, as in the Abbey, the multi-colored standards of the Knights of the Order of the Garter are also hung above the choir.

The temple hosts ceremonial services, royal weddings, and burials of monarchs. last generations. Here are the resting places of Elizabeth II's parents, the Queen Mother and George VI, as well as her grandmother, Queen Mary. There are burials of more ancient ancestors: Edward IV, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

Almost at the exit from the chapel there will be the tomb of Prince Albert. As you know, Queen Victoria loved her husband very much, and before the mausoleum was built in Frogmore Park (part of Windsor Park), Albert was buried in the chapel for a year.

The room is not completely accessible for inspection, i.e. you cannot go inside, but you can see the beautiful marble floor and gilded sculptures from the entrance. Large mirrors are placed in the tomb so that a visitor, standing on the threshold, through them can fully see the painted walls of the room and the tombstones of the son and grandson of Albert and Victoria.

In the chapel of St. St. George's day there are three services that you can freely attend:

10:45 - Mattins and Sermon (Matins and Sermon),
12:00 - Sung Eucharist (Eucharist),
17:15 - Evensong (Vespers).

They prepare more carefully for the evening service, so from 16:00 to 17:00 there is usually no access to the church. On Sunday the temple is closed to visitors due to the fact that the Queen usually spends her weekends at the castle.

Queen Mary's Cottage

On site, you can go separately and see Queen Mary's Doll's House: a miniature replica of Buckingham Palace with replica interiors, furniture and paintings. The house has everything, even a real wine cellar and miniature thrones. The room where the house is displayed is a little dark, and everyone is crowding around the glass display case with the masterpiece. I'm not as passionate about miniatures as Queen Mary, so I skipped that part on subsequent visits.

However, there is also a display case with dolls of Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret.

During a visit to France in 1938, King George VI received two dolls, France and Marianne, complete with outfits, suitcases and even cars, for his young daughters. The entire doll's wardrobe was created by fashion houses Cartier, Lanvin, Hermes, etc.

State rooms

This is the public part of the palace where all receptions and meetings take place. You can, of course, see the windows of the private half from the official rooms, but it is unlikely that the queen will flash through them.

On the ground floor there are rooms where items of royal services are displayed in display cases: gilded candlesticks and stands for huge dishes, porcelain plates and crystal glasses. Nearby there is a cloakroom where you can drop off large bags (don’t worry, it’s double-sided, and by the end of the excursion you will be exactly on the other side of it and pick up your things).

Next you go up the luxurious staircase to the second floor. It is this way that diplomats and all those invited to dinner parties get to Windsor Castle. You will immediately feel that you are in a castle, because there will be figures of mounted knights, armor and weapons all around. The royal guard room contains excellent examples of weaponry.

Tourists can see the state chambers of the king and the separate chambers of the queen at the turn of the 18th–19th centuries, including a bedroom, living room and dining room for each of them.

All rooms are full of paintings, elegant antique furniture and sculpture.

Waterloo Chamber represents portrait gallery Great Britain's allies in the fight against Napoleon. Among the portraits of the Duke of Wellington and Pope Pius VII, you will also find a portrait of the Russian Tsar Alexander I. Now the Queen holds receptions and awards ceremonies here. On days when tourists visit the castle, the castle’s magnificent carpets are simply rolled up.
Reception Hall- a former ballroom, with an amazing malachite vase, a gift from Tsar Nicholas I. In this room it is noticeable that the parquet is quite new.
The fact is that after the fire in 1992, water ruined the precious coating. Then a cunning technique was used: the blocks of wood were removed and laid bottom up to its own place.
Garter Throne Room- a small meeting room for the Order, which is headed by the Queen herself. The blue velvet walls are decorated with a huge portrait of her and other members of the order. IN next room The main symbols of the order are displayed in the display case: the garter and the insignia.
The number of members of the order is limited, and new ones can only be accepted after the death of one of them. The colorful procession of the Order through Windsor Castle to St. Chapel. George usually takes place in June and attracts many spectators.
Signs and symbols of this order can be found not only at Windsor Castle, but also in. Personally, the insignia of the Order of the Garter reminds me of the backing for Russian award insignia.
Hall of St. St. George Hall- the largest and most beautiful reception hall in the castle. Its wooden walls are covered with the names of knights, whose coats of arms are placed on the walls and ceiling of the hall. Do not be surprised if you see empty places with traces of the obvious presence of the coat of arms: demoted knights are removed from the lists and the memorial row.
In the hall of St. George, ceremonial diplomatic dinners are held. The longest table is installed, the straight lines of which are checked with a ruler. The placement of glasses and plates is also checked to the nearest centimeter. Before receptions, the Queen personally inspects the table setting.
At the end of the hall, behind the right door, there is a small dark room, in the windows of which items of church utensils are displayed: in this place before the fire there was a home chapel, and from here the entrance to the Semi-State rooms begins, as the carpet running behind the closed door will tell you, if you arrive in the summer.

Semi-state rooms

These are several private rooms from the time of George IV, open to the public only in winter. The fire in 1992 started here. Much of the fittings were saved, but much was damaged.

Today, the decoration of the rooms has become even brighter, since pieces of furniture have been restored or recreated according to drawings from the Royal Library. The Raspberry Living Room is especially striking. Combined with gold, the new vibrant silk upholstery appears in all its splendor.

Semi-state rooms are now also in use royal family for receptions.

Gift shops and Edinburgh Wollen Mill

There are several souvenir shops on the territory of the castle: at the point where audio guides are issued, in the Lower Courtyard, in the Middle Courtyard and a shop in the Chapel of St. George (marked with orange squares on the map).

You can buy a lot of things there:

There is another shop right opposite the castle entrance that I advise you not to miss. Edinburgh Mile- the same blue house that I talked about at the beginning, a store of kilts, scarves and other things made of cashmere. Kilts actually exist for women, and they come in 3 lengths: floor-length, mid-calf and knee-length. The price of a mini kilt is 46.4 EUR (40 GBP). It's cheaper than the same things in London. I have 4 of these!

You can buy cashmere sweaters - from 40.6 EUR (35 GBP). The prices are not cheap, but there is a discount on many things, and the quality is excellent. And only here you will find items of the memorial tartan (Scottish check) of Princess Diana. I haven't seen them in London.

Tartan colors are blue and pink. When choosing scarves, be careful: they are soft to the touch for 29 EUR (25 GBP) and 128 EUR (110 GBP)! You will also find charming tartan gloves for 5.8 EUR (5 GBP). They are simply irreplaceable in the Windsor winds!

Finally

If you decide to come to Windsor, set aside a full day! Three hours in the castle will fly by very quickly, and you still need to visit the huge Windsor Park. I even envy you a little, because either the weather or business always prevented me from examining it properly and getting to the Frogmore estate in the park.

You can have lunch in the town or at the station in cafes while waiting for the train to Slow. Or you can go down into the Thames Valley and walk to Eton College. In any case, stunning views and fresh English air are guaranteed!

Spend your day like an English monarch on holiday!

Anything to add?

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

Myths and facts

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 seal on this, 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 position - 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. Central building Edward's 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 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. Imitating in, Karl laid out many shady alleys in the surrounding area.

After the death of Charles II, subsequent monarchs until George III preferred to use other and. 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. The architects transformed George 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.

What to see

Windsor Castle remains the main residence of the royal family, but much of it is now open to tourists. Like , it is guarded by a guard, the ceremonial change 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 you can see the most romantic fortress, which also served as a home for many queens of England. There 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

Not far from the capital of Great Britain, where the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II is located, there is a small town of Windsor. Most likely, it would have remained a little-known provincial town if several centuries ago the rulers of England had not built a beautiful palace here, on the curved bank of the Thames.

Today, Windsor Castle is known throughout the world as the summer residence of English monarchs, and hundreds and thousands of tourists come to the city every day to look at this miracle of architecture and the artistic values stored in it, and to hear new Interesting Facts his stories and details of the Queen's life. It is also worth remembering that since 1917 the royal family has had the surname Windsor, taken after the city and castle, in order to forget about their German roots.

History of the construction of Windsor Castle

Almost a thousand years ago, to protect London, William I ordered a ring of fortresses rising on artificial hills to be built around it. One of these strategic fortresses was the wooden castle in Windsor, surrounded by walls. It was built 30 km from London around 1070.

Since 1110, the castle has served as a temporary or permanent residence for English monarchs: they lived, hunted, entertained, married, were born, were imprisoned and died here. Many kings loved this place, so it quickly grew from a wooden fortress stone castle with courtyards, church, towers.

Repeatedly, as a result of attacks and sieges, the fortress was destroyed and partially burned, but each time it was rebuilt taking into account past mistakes: new watchtowers were erected, the gates and the hill itself were strengthened, and stone walls were completed.

A luxurious palace appeared in the castle under Henry III, and Edward III erected a building for meetings of the Order of the Garter. The War of the Roses (15th century), as well as the Civil War of Parliamentarians and Royalists (mid-17th century), caused serious damage to the buildings of Windsor Castle. Many artistic and historical treasures stored in the royal palace and church were also damaged or destroyed.

TO end of XVII century, reconstruction at Windsor Castle was completed, some rooms and courtyards were opened to tourists. A major restoration was carried out already under George IV: the facades of the buildings were redone, the towers were added, the Waterloo Hall was built, and the interior decoration and furniture were updated. In this updated form, Windsor Castle became the main residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their large family. The queen and her husband were buried nearby, in Frogmore, a country residence located 1 km from the building.

IN late XIX century, water supply and electricity were installed in the palace; in the 20th century, this was done central heating, garages were built for the cars of the royal fleet, telephone communications appeared. In 1992, there was a major fire that damaged hundreds of premises. To raise money for restoration, it was decided to start collecting fees for visiting Windsor Park and London.

Current state

Today, Windsor Castle is considered the largest and most beautiful residential castle in the whole world. Its territory occupies a plot of land 165x580 m. To maintain order and organize the work of excursion premises, as well as to maintain the royal chambers and gardens, about five thousand people work in the palace, some of them live here on a permanent basis.

About a million people come on excursions every year, with a particularly large influx of tourists observed on the days of the Queen’s scheduled visits. Elizabeth II comes to Windsor in the spring for a whole month, and in June for a week. In addition, she makes short visits to meet with officials of her country and foreign countries. The Royal Standard, raised above the palace on such days, notifies everyone of their presence at Windsor Castle senior person states. Ordinary tourists have very little chance of meeting her, but the queen takes advantage separate entrance to the Upper Yard.

What to see

The royal family does not play a practical role in English politics, but is a symbol of the power, constancy and wealth of the country. Windsor Castle, like Buckingham Palace, is designed to support this statement. Therefore, the beautiful and luxurious residence of the monarch is open to visitors every day, although it is not officially a museum.

You will have to spend several hours examining the entire building, and tourists are not allowed into all its corners. There is never crowding inside, because the number of visitors at a time is regulated. Group excursions are recommended to be booked in advance.

You should behave calmly, after all, this is the place where the queen lives and where high-ranking people meet. At the entrance to Windsor Castle you can not only buy tickets, but also purchase detailed map, as well as an audio guide. With such an electronic guide it is convenient to walk on your own, without joining groups; it gives a detailed description of all significant places. Audio guides are offered at different languages, including in Russian.

The most interesting spectacle, for which some tourists come here several times, is the changing of the guard. Royal Guard, which monitors order and the safety of the royal family, holds a changing of the guard ceremony every day in the warm season, and every other day in the cold season, at 11:00. This activity usually lasts 45 minutes and is accompanied by an orchestra, but in case of bad weather the time is reduced and the musical accompaniment is cancelled.

During excursions, tourists pay great attention to the following attractions:

In addition, other halls and premises deserve attention:

State and Lower Houses.
Waterloo Hall.
Throne room.

They are open to visitors on days when there are no official receptions. In the halls, guests are presented with ancient tapestries, paintings by famous artists, antique furniture, porcelain collections and unique library exhibits.

A visit to Windsor Castle introduces tourists to significant pages of British history and reveals the world of luxury and grandeur of the English monarchs.

Helpful information

Opening hours of excursion ticket offices: from March to October 9:30-17:30, at winter time– until 16:15. Taking photos inside the premises and the Chapel of St. George is not allowed, but tourists get smart and take pictures of angles that interest them on their phones. People take pictures freely in the yard.

From London you can get to Windsor Castle (Berkshire) by taxi, bus and train. At the same time, entrance tickets are sold directly on trains traveling to Windsor station from Paddington station (with a change in Slough) and Waterloo. This is very convenient - you don’t have to stand in line at the gate.

Of all the castles built by William the Conqueror, Windsor played the most important role both in strategic terms - this fortress was closest to the Thames, on which it stood metropolitan London, and in the life of the court - around were the hunting grounds of 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 it was possible to hide from wars and popular unrest in London, without forgetting about having a good time.

During the reign of William I the Conqueror and his heir William II the Red (circa 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 mid-XII V. 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 Revolution of the 17th century.

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. Of all, the Great Reception Hall stands out for its significant size with its 12-meter ceilings and grandiose stucco moldings 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 an equestrian statue of Charles II. Along the west side of the Upper Court there is 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. In the northern part of the courtyard stands the Gothic chapel of St. George, capitular temple of the Order of the Garter, with a choir covered copper plates depicting the coats of arms of the Knights of the Order of the Garter over 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 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 marked the turning point of 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 an army) from each other, and in London itself - the famous Tower fortress.

■ 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.

■ At different times, 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 of the Royal Academy of 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 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 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 one of the symbols of British power. It is located in the British county of Berkshire and is primarily associated with its stunning architecture and connection with the royal family. In its original form, the castle was erected in the 11th century immediately after the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. Since the reign of Henry I it has been used as a residence for the royal family.

Story

The original purpose of the building was to defend the outskirts of London from the enemies of the Normans. In those days, the castle was simply three towers around a central structure. Over time, the towers were replaced by stone fortifications and were subject to a long siege in the war between the barons of the 13th century. In the Middle Ages, Henry built a luxurious royal palace out of the castle, and Edward III went even further, intending to build the most expensive secular building in all of England. Throughout the Tudor era, the palace was actively used for the lives of monarchs and ceremonial receptions.

During the Civil War, the building went through difficult times; it was used as a headquarters and also a prison for Charles I. Later, when Charles II came to power, they tried to bring the palace as close as possible to its original appearance, and its luxurious Baroque interiors are admired to this day. Each of the subsequently reigning monarchs also made certain changes to the building until it became what it is now - and one of the most popular tourist spots.

Architecture Features

The area of Windsor Castle is 5.3 hectares, including elements of the fortress wall, palace and small town. The castle in its present form took many years to be rebuilt, because in 1992 it was badly damaged in a fire. The design is largely Victorian, but with elements of Gothic and modern styles. The architects tried not to lose the spirit of Old English traditions. However, this decision was repeatedly criticized - the building was considered “unnatural” and “like a performance.”

Surrounding landscape

The castle is located on top of a steep hill, so the area of its gardens is very limited in size. They extend mostly along the eastern slope. The extensive park includes two working farms and a small village where mostly the staff who care for the palace and grounds live.

The park has long double alleys, consisting mostly of plane trees and chestnuts. In the pre-war years, many trees died from Dutch disease, but in 1945 the plantings were restored. The park on the north side is a broad-leaved forest, one of the oldest in Europe. On its territory is the St. George School, which trains choristers. And nearby, across the River Thames, stands Eton College.

Windsor Castle inside

Fire 1992

On November 20, the palace was engulfed in a severe fire, which burned for fifteen hours and caused terrible damage to the upper part of the building. At that time, the chapel, located in the northeastern part, had been restored for many years in a row, and one of the lighting devices used in the work in the morning set fire to the curtain next to the altar. The flames quickly spread and destroyed nine important government premises, causing serious damage to more than a hundred others.

Firefighters tried to contain the fire with water, while castle workers saved valuables. More than one and a half million gallons of water were wasted. Fortunately, no people were hurt. In fact, it was the subsequent restoration work that caused the most problems. Many disputes arose regarding who should pay for the repairs - the building was not insured. Most journalists believed that the queen should pay from her personal treasury. In the end, a solution was found - Buckingham Palace began to be opened from time to time for excursions, and Windsor Castle was restored with the money received.

Castle today

Windsor Castle is now the property of Elizabeth II and is run by the royal family. This is the largest inhabited palace in the world, as well as the record holder for the number of years lived in it. As of 2006, five hundred people live in the castle, including servants. Queen in Lately uses this castle for balls and receptions almost more often than Buckingham Palace.

Behind last years A lot of actions were taken both to restore and develop the castle. It is one of Britain's most popular tourist attractions and contains an impressive collection of art. In 2001, two water turbines were installed on the Thames to provide personal electricity to the castle and its surrounding area. And in April 2016 it was announced that the royal family was spending £27 million to restore the original appearance of the entrance hall for visitors, as well as open a cafe in the style of the 14th century. The project is planned to be completed by the end of 2018.

How to get there from London?

You can get from London any day by bus number 702, the journey will take about an hour. The bus stops right next to the castle, so you won't miss it.

official website Windsor Castle