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Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is one of the most beautiful and romantic monuments in England. His name (Windsor) comes from the word Wyndleshora (« The winding shore "). It is located in Windsor , Berkshire on the banks of the Thames , 30 km to the west of London. It is the largest in size ( 576 by 164 meters) castle in the world and the oldest continuously inhabited preserved ancient buildings . Windsor Castle - today's favorite residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Windsor . It is no secret that he prefers it to his principal residence - London's Buckingham Palace . Her Majesty resides here twice a year, in April and in June.
The history of the castle was started by William the Conqueror , who came with the troops of the British Isles and conquer them in 1066 to the year. First, on the high bank of the Thames wooden structure erected to keep out of his tower under the supervision of one of the roads of London. The first stone walls were built only a hundred years when Henry II Plantagenet ( Henry of Anjou ) .
But the main building conversion in Windsor occurred in XIII-XIV centuries. The castle was subjected to a thorough repair , and in the surrounding area were first gardens. However, today the castle is mainly built and rebuilt in the XVI century, Henry VIII Tudor.
Castle built in the classic European rules : first, an artificial hill was built , it was built on the central tower - the keep or citadel . Originally, the tower and the whole fortress was . The base of the hill girded circular moat and moat built around two concentric walls . Moat failed to fill it with water , it very quickly seeped through the soil into the Thames . So today at the bottom of the pit is broken wonderful garden.
Today, the old castle complex consists of three parts: the Lower , Middle and Upper yards. Each of them is surrounded by walls and towers . All the gates of the castle are in the average yard , where the Round Tower , a height of forty five meters and climb to the top of 220 steps.
Today, it is an observation deck , which offers a magnificent view of the surroundings . When the Queen is in the castle , the Round Tower posted on her personal standard . This tower is famous for the fact that it has under King Edward II gathered the Knights of the Round Table .
On top of the Round Tower is the bell superstructure , where unseen outside Sevastopol hanging bell, cast in the XVIII century in Moscow and captured by the British during the Crimean War in the XIX century . It tolls only on the day when the British monarch dies .
East courtyard called top, here are the private rooms of Queen Elizabeth II. They consist of two parts: the royal apartments , where there is no access to tourists , and where the royal family lives , when he comes to Windsor, and the chambers of the State , where tourists allowed in those days , when no one is visiting the castle , as the state quarters - is essentially guest rooms .
In the lower courtyard stands the chapel of St. George (Saint George's Chapel) - a masterpiece of English Gothic and " Windsor Horseshoe" - arranged in a semicircle at home for servants. Chapel - one of the most remarkable examples of the perpendicular style of English Gothic architecture.
Construction of the chapel took place in two stages , first with the choir were built altars ( 1483 ), followed by oil ( 1496 ), and the overlap of the stone ne completed only in 1528.
Above the seats, located in the gallery , hang signs of the Garter , knight swords , helmets and banners ka Valero Order, on the backs of seats strengthened heraldic plaques that since the Middle Ages were an essential part of heraldry . Churches - a great west window with stained glass end of the 15th century and raised the roof decorations . In the chapel of St. George, as a rule, it witnesses the marriage of members of the royal family.
The Chapel of St. George - the second most important shrine in the kingdom after the West minsterskogo abbey here in the tradition of the royal family are buried . Among those buried here of the royal family - Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Charles I, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra , George V and Queen Mary .
Ordinary tourists are only interested in interiors of the castle, the royal collections of art and valuables. But we are primarily interested in gardens. From the towers of the castle overlooking the Windsor Great Park . Previously, there were royal hunting grounds.
At the end of the XVIII century, the park was laid a long path for walking, its length 3 miles. Before the eastern facade stretches East terraced garden , made in the French style of the regular . He was defeated for George IV in the early XIX century. The gardens are located on the bottom of the ditch , which is viewed from the castle walls , entwined with vines. In the 90 -ies of XX century at Windsor Castle designed by Tom Stuart -Smith (Tom Stuart-Smith) Jubilee Gardens was created in honor of the Queen's Golden Jubilee .
Gardens of the Queen of England a few surprises with its democratic character . There is no pomp , splendor and luxury. The garden is located a stone stage where there are regular concerts of the orchestra of the Royal Guard . Its decor is repeated image of the star of the Order of the Garter which was founded here . Windsor Castle is a stronghold of the highest order of knights of England - Order of the Garter Knight of the Garter were 3 Russian Emperor Alexander I ( 1813 ) , Nicholas I ( 1827) and Alexander II ( 1862).
Windsor Castle is located a few kilometers from the largest international airport Heathrow, and there now and then sounds the roar of aircraft taking off or going to land. When Queen Elizabeth II asked for permission to open at Heathrow airport has one runway , she gave him . But she was not informed that the aircraft will fly right over her head , that is, over Windsor Castle . Queen have been cheated .
Today, Windsor Castle - tourist center , where every year millions of visitors come from all over the world.
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