The British are an amazing nation that draws strength from its history and traditions. Therefore, the castles of England and its palaces are already a kind of brand, without which not a single trip around the country is complete. They keep beautiful and tragic stories about love and betrayal, victories and defeats, cruelty and greatness of the human soul.
The earliest Norman castles in England date back to the 9-10th century, and there are not many of them. And in
the Middle Ages, every major feudal lord necessarily built his own powerful castle, made in the characteristic
Gothic style. So in each county there were several dozen castles built at different times. Today, 282 buildings of majestic castle architecture are well preserved.
The ancient Tower, built a thousand years ago by William the Conqueror, is rightfully considered the symbol of London . The tower has changed its purpose many times - from the royal palace to the gloomy dungeon. Now it houses the magnificent royal treasury and the best historical museum.
The largest residential medieval castle in the world is Windsor Palace - the royal residence of the ruling British monarchs. Here a brilliant collection of paintings and sculptures is collected, and the majestic Windsor Park impresses with its exquisite landscape architecture. For excursions, not only the park is open, but also most of the palace.
Castles of England can not be imagined without the amazing palace of Leeds - the favorite of six queens. It is located on two islands and is surrounded by picturesque vineyards and a unique park. Historically, this castle very often hosts various exhibitions and festivals.
The mystical
ancient castles of England are headed by the castle of
St. Michael, built on the mountain of the same name. It is considered the "pearl of the crown" of the famous county of Cornwall. The name of the castle and the mountain is associated with the appearance of the Archangel Michael in this place as far back as the 5th century AD. And in the middle of the 6th century, an amazing story happened here, when the army of King Arthur was saved by the sea, suddenly overlooking the coast near this mountain and swallowing the army of the enemy Arthur, king Mordred.
Many castles in England were built like powerful fortresses. So, Bodnam's five hundred-year-old castle is invariably admired - heavy, but elegant in its own way, decorated with magnificent towers.
Temple Castle, the residence of the legendary Knights Templar , will tell about the times of the heroic crusades . The temple still has 10 tombs of ancient knights.
It is impossible to imagine the castles of England without mysterious ghosts and chilling bloody stories. So, in the county of Norfolk, there is Blickling Hall Castle, in which the ghost of Anna Boleyn regularly appears, executed by treacherous orders from her husband, King Henry VIII. And the legend of Glamis Castle says that his master was walled up in the room by his own servants, because he decided not to stop playing cards, even if the devil was at his table. So he leads an endless game of his careless desire.
Filmmakers can find suitable castles in England for any historical or fictional event. For example, some episodes of “Harry Potter” were filmed in Blenheim Palace, and the sensational “Da Vinci Code” was shot in Beaver Castle.
British laws make sure that the owners of ancient castles restored them, did not violate the architecture and maintained in good condition. Castles in England are a popular form of real estate. Famous singers, movie stars, businessmen and politicians seek to acquire them. So, the happy owners of their own castles were Madonna and Angelina Jolie.
To imbue the spirit of Great Britain, you must visit its ancient palaces and castles. This is the heart and soul of an amazing country.