The Tower of London, or the Royal Palace of Her Majesty, is located in England, in the very center of London, on the banks of the Thames. The founder of this historical monument is considered to be William I. Initially, it was a defensive structure. It was built along with other similar fortresses to establish control over the country.
The Tower of London took the first prisoner in 1190. As a prison, it was used only for high-ranking people of noble birth. Among the most famous can be called the kings of France, Scotland and their families. Twelve-year-old Edward V, his younger brother and Henry VI were killed here.
The Tower of London, whose history is incredibly interesting and diverse, in the 13th century places a menagerie on its territory. There you could see a polar bear, an elephant and three leopards. Gradually, animals became more and more, and in 1830 they were transferred to the
London Zoo.At the very beginning of the XIII century, Henry III significantly transformed the Tower of London. It housed the royal residence and luxurious buildings were built. Coldharbor gates were erected in the northwest of the Inner Courtyard (they have not been preserved to this day). The courtyard was bounded by a wall fortified in the southwest by Wakefield Tower, in the east by the Lantern Tower, and in the north by the Wardrob Tower. The Lantern and Wakefield adjoined the Great Hall and were an integral part of the palace. It housed the royal residence before the arrival of Oliver Cromwell. Under him, many of the magnificent buildings were destroyed.
The Tower was the royal mint for about 500 years. The most important legal and state records were kept here, weapons and military equipment of the army and the king were made. The local treasures kept the treasures of the entire British Empire. In the XVII century they were open to visitors. Among the exhibits are royal scepters and precious stones that adorned the crowns. All these items are used to this day by members of the royal family.
The Tower of London today is one of the main attractions of London. The main buildings have not changed since ancient times. To this day, it houses one of the Royal Residences.
The dried moat that surrounds all the buildings is crossed by a bridge that leads from the Middle Tower to the Bayward Tower. Here are the gates that once served as external fortifications, called the Lion Tower.
Today, many buildings are open for visitors. In addition to them, tourists can see an amazing collection of weapons, royal armories, jewels of the British crown and the remains of the walls of a Roman fortress.
The Tower of London, whose photos in large quantities are available on a variety of sites, has a rich history. Local guides will be happy to tell about it and much more. In their capacity are Yeomeni gatekeepers. In addition, they provide order and are a tourist attraction. The Tower closing ceremony is held every evening. Gatekeepers are involved in the transfer of keys.