The Tower of London - Her Majesty's Palace

The Tower of London, or the Royal Palace of Her Majesty, is in England, in the heart of London, on the banks of the Thames. The founder of this historic monument is William I. Initially, it was a defensive structure. It was built along with other similar fortresses to establish control over the country.

The first prisoner of the Tower of London took in 1190. As a prison, it was used only for high-ranking people of noble origin. Among the most famous can be called the kings of France, Scotland and members of their families. Here were killed twelve-year-old Edward V, his younger brother and Henry VI.

The Tower of London, whose history is incredibly interesting and diverse, places a menagerie on its territory in the 13th century. There you could see a polar bear, an elephant and three leopards. Gradually, the animals become more and more, and in 1830 they were transferred to the London Zoo.

At the very beginning of the thirteenth century, Henry III significantly transformed the Tower of London. It housed a royal residence and luxurious buildings were built. In the north-west of the courtyard, the Koldharbor Gate was erected (they have not survived to this day). The courtyard was bordered by a wall fortified in the southwest by the Wakefield Tower, to the east by the Lamp Tower, to the north by the Wardrobe Tower. The Lantern and Wakefield were adjacent to the Great Hall and were an integral part of the palace. Here was the royal residence before the arrival of Oliver Cromwell. With him, many of the luxurious buildings were destroyed.

In the Tower about 500 years there was a royal mint. Here, the most important legal and state records were kept, weapons and military equipment of the army and the king were manufactured. The local treasuries stored the jewels of the entire British Empire. In the XVII century, they were open to visits. Among the exhibits there are royal scepters and precious stones adorning the crowns. All these items are still used by members of the royal family.

The Tower of London today is one of the most important sights of London. The main buildings have not changed since ancient times. Until now, it houses one of the Royal Residences.

The dry ditch that surrounds all the structures is intersected by a bridge that leads from the Middle Tower to the Tower of Bayward. Here are the gates, which once served as an external fortification, called the Lion's Tower.

Today, many buildings are open to visitors. In addition, tourists can see a stunning collection of weapons, royal arms stores, jewels of the British crown and the remains of the walls of the Roman fortress.

The Tower of London, whose photo is in huge numbers posted on various sites, has a rich history. About her and many other things with pleasure will tell the local guides. In their quality, the gatekeepers of omen are performing. In addition, they provide order and are a tourist attraction. Every evening there is a solemn closing ceremony of the Tower. The gatekeepers are involved in the transfer of keys.