Address: Great Britain, London, in the historic part of the city, on the banks of the Thames
Foundation date: 1066 year
Coordinates: 51 ° 30'29.3 "N 0 ° 04'33.9" W
Content:
Short description
On the left bank of the majestic Thames stands the Tower of London, a building that has gone down in history not only in England, but throughout Europe since its inception.
A bird's eye view of the fortress
Probably, it is for this reason that the Tower is one of the most visited places in the capital of Foggy Albion. To say that this gloomy architectural structure is a symbol of the whole of Great Britain would, of course, be correct. However, the Tower became a symbol of one of the most powerful countries in the entire Old World not so much because of its style, in which it was built more than 900 years ago, but because of its gloomy (and sometimes not so) history.
The fact is that even while planning a trip to London, looking at the photo of the Tower, getting acquainted with its past, you suddenly begin to understand that this architectural structure performed several functions at once. Simply put, the Tower of London, which in its shapes resembles a fortress, was not only a fortification, but also an ominous prison, a place where death sentences were carried out, a repository of state values, a huge arsenal and a giant workshop where coins were minted. True, this is not all the functions that were assigned to the building of the Tower of London: during its long history, he managed to visit the main residence of kings, an observatory in which astronomers watched the movement of cosmic bodies, and even a zoo.
View of the fortress from the Thames
Probably, on our entire huge planet it is difficult to find another such place that was used for so many purposes at once. By the way, the Tower, which a modern traveler can see at the moment, is the residence of representatives of the royal family, a museum and an ordinary residential building with apartments. To be fair, we note that there are not many apartments there, for the most part guards live in them with their families and other museum staff. After all the enumeration of the functions assigned to the Tower of London at certain intervals, I would like to clarify once again that this particular building is officially considered the main symbol of the entire United Kingdom. It is the whole of Great Britain, not its capital, which has a couple of other "business cards" of its own. Although, the Tower building can still be safely attributed to at least five of the most significant and interesting sights of London.
More than two and a half million tourists come to see the Tower every year. And although Westminster and Buckingham Palaces look much more spectacular both outside and inside, it is in the Tower that you can see what is not available anywhere else in the UK. Aside from the legendary black ravens of the fortress, which you should definitely stop at a little lower, the Tower contains the crown of monarchs (!) And the world's largest diamond.
View of the Middle Tower (right, main entrance) and Byward Tower
This world's largest diamond, as it should be, has its own name - Cullinan I. The first is not because the largest and even cut, but because it is of the highest quality, as jewelers like to say, "pure water". Such treasures, which even the most reputable art historians and jewelers will not be able to assess in monetary terms, the British authorities decided to place in the country's most recognizable fortress - the Great Tower of London.
Tower of London - foundation story
If you carefully study all the preserved documents and chronicles, you can easily draw a certain conclusion that the Tower of London was built by order of the formidable King William I... In addition to his cruelty, William I was an excellent strategist: he understood that in the conquered city and the surrounding area it was necessary to build a huge number of fortifications in the shortest possible time in order to strike terror on the defeated Anglo-Saxons. Fortresses should be not only gloomy, but also truly impregnable. It is not surprising that the orders of the uncompromising king in those days were carried out in record time.
View of Mount Legg Bastion
Large and small forts around modern London were built just a myriad. However, the Tower became the largest and most terrifying fortress in those days. Instead of a wooden defensive structure, which could be burned down literally in a few hours, and which was built, as they would say now, “for blurring the eyes,” a gigantic fortress appeared for those times. Its shape almost resembled a square, almost ... The length of the walls was 32x36 meters, but the height of the fortification was slightly more than 30 meters. The monarch and his family lived behind the defended walls of the Tower of London, but the circumstances were such that, due to the rapid expansion of London, the fortress was in a place where mostly beggars lived. The king did not like this neighborhood, and he moved to the luxurious Palace of Westminster. However, this did not affect the significance and strategically important purpose of the Tower.
At the moment, you can find information on many Internet resources that after the construction of the Tower, the people received the nickname "The White Tower". There is only a grain of truth in this definition: the Tower under King William I was built of gray stone and it was not white.
View of the Mednaya Gora bastion
Moreover, its white tower, which was originally the only structure of the Tower, was not. The Tower of London was painted white during the reign of the new king. It was this monarch who was oppressed by the gloomy Tower, and he decided to make it more attractive. It is only since that time that the fortress began to be called White Tower. Another legendary king Richard, nicknamed "Lionheart", ordered to attach several high towers to the existing fortress at once, and to erect two additional massive fortress walls.
In addition, during his reign, the Tower was surrounded by the deepest moat. According to modern experts, it was Richard the Lionheart who made the Tower the most formidable and most impregnable fortification in Europe at that time..
After the monarchs moved to Westminster Palace, built among the marshes, the Tower became a prison. Of course, it was not an ordinary prison: it did not contain petty thieves and other criminals. Only the most influential people in Europe served their sentences in the Tower under reliable protection behind blank walls. Their list is huge, but it should definitely be noted that the kings of France, dukes, rulers of Scotland, priests excommunicated for their views from the church, and other representatives of the aristocracy were kept in the fortress. In order to understand the significance of the Tower prison-fortress, one should list at least a few of its prisoners: King James of Scotland, King John II of France, Walter Raleigh and others.
White Tower
The courts of that time did not consider the cases of political prisoners for long, and many of them were thrown into the dungeons of the Tower simply by order of the king. The Duke of Orleans spent 25 years imprisoned in a huge fortress, he miraculously managed to survive thanks to the fact that the representatives of the legendary dynasty paid a huge ransom. By the way, Charles d'Orléans lived happily ever after after his release in Blois and was even considered the main patron saint of all European poets and writers.
Unfortunately, not everyone was as lucky as the Duke of Orleans: many in the Tower of London were executed. The executioners and the judges who gave them orders did not look either at the situation or at the age of the unfortunate.On the territory of the fortress, Edward V said goodbye to life, who lived in this world for 12 years. The younger brother of Edward V, Henry VI, and other no less famous people did not escape the sad fate. The aforementioned Walter Raleigh, who was popularly known as an explorer, playwright and talented poet, spent 13 years in the Tower. During this time, he even managed to write a famous work called "History of the World". After his release, he did not enjoy life for long, he was again taken into custody and thrown into the Tower. Alas, he did not manage to get out of the fortress-prison for the second time: on the territory of the Tower of London, Walter Raleigh was executed for his political views.
Waterloo Barracks, Treasury of the British Crown
The Tower is an ominous place
After the Reformation, the Tower became even more ill-famed. For those who are not familiar with history, let us clarify that the Reformation is a whole series of events aimed at full compliance of faith (of course, Catholic) with the Bible. Alas, it was precisely this correspondence that had nothing to do with the Bible in many aspects. It was the Reformation that marked the beginning of the Holy Inquisition.
King Henry VIII was especially cruel, who generally decided that he was the head of the Catholic Church of England, and broke all ties with the Roman Catholic Church. With those who did not agree with the decision of the monarch, they did not stand on ceremony, after terrible torture their heads were cut off. Henry VIII went down in history as the most bloodthirsty king: he executed not only political and religious opponents: before the eyes of the crowd, they tortured to death, and then even beheaded his wives. Their fault was only in one thing: they could not manage to give birth to a son to the monarch. One has only to imagine that the executioner cut off the head in the Tower of the fifth (!) Wife of Henry. The son of the insane monarch was nevertheless born and completely inherited all his qualities from his father; he arranged public executions on a hill near the Tower with enviable regularity. True, he died already six years after he ascended the throne.
Fusiliers Museum
For the sake of justice, we note that on the territory of the fortress-prison itself, only five people were executed, who were "pardoned" and did not begin to kill in public. All other prisoners died in front of the crowd on Tower Hill. The execution of the prisoner of the Tower of London took place as follows: they cut off his head and put it on a stake, which was fixed on the bridge.
The headless body was taken to the Tower and buried in one of the many cellars of the fortress. Modern archaeologists at the moment have found in the dungeons of the fortification, which was previously the residence of monarchs, just over 1,500 headless skeletons. Excavations are still ongoing ... and how many remains will still be found, one can only guess. The last execution in the Tower of London took place already in 1941, when a man accused of espionage was shot there. in favor of the fascist
In addition to the fact that the Tower was a prison, Henry VIII adapted it for the state treasury. Where else could valuables be kept if not in the most inaccessible and, at the same time, the most terrible place in England? In the Tower of London, prisoners were held in the basements, and gold was stored in other rooms. Some of the premises were given to the craftsmen who minted silver coins for Henry VIII. By the way, silver for coins was not mined in mines, it was simply taken from destroyed Roman Catholic monasteries: everything was used - crosses, and frames of icons, and inlaid decorative elements of temples.
Queen's house
Tower of London - the end of nightmares
All the horrors ended in the Tower with the coming to power of King John Lackland, the same monarch who signed the "Charter of Liberties" at the Palace of Westminster, and laid the foundation for a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in England. John Landless used the Tower for entertainment (certainly not like Henry VIII and his son). The monarch, who gave part of the power to parliament, turned the Tower into a zoo! By the way, before the reign of John Lackland, animals were kept on the territory of the fortress, but it was this king who expanded the collection of fauna representatives, and Queen Elizabeth I allowed ordinary people to observe the life of predators and herbivores. The zoo on the territory of the Tower of London existed until 1830!
Tower of London - tourist guide
The modern Tower, as mentioned at the very beginning of the material, is an interesting museum. Some of its exhibits delight, but some cause involuntary shivers. It becomes especially scary for impressionable people near a stone and an ax. The very stone on which people were deprived of their heads, people sentenced to death.
New armory chambers
The traveler, whose paths led to the Tower of London, will be greeted by representatives of the palace guards. By the way, it has existed since 1475. It was its representatives who led the accused into the Tower through the gate, which was called the "Gate of Traitors". Now representatives of the Tower guards are not distinguished by their aggressiveness, although they are always on the alert: recall that the fortress contains the crown of England, the largest diamond in the world and a huge amount of treasures. These treasures include a scepter adorned with precious stones and other regalia, mostly made of precious metals.
In addition to the fact that the Tower Guard protects priceless relics, some of its representatives can lead an exciting excursion around the fortress, prison, zoo, mint, observatory and museum. Taking a photo of the Tower, and even capturing yourself next to a formidable guard, is the dream of hundreds of thousands of tourists. By the way, all the Tower guards in London are called "beefeaters", which can be literally translated into Russian as "meat-eater"... This nickname was attached to them back in the 15th century: the people of England were starving, and the guards who guarded important prisoners and the state treasury were always fed. And not just fed: for breakfast, lunch and dinner, each member of the Tower Guard received a huge piece of meat (an unaffordable luxury for an ordinary citizen in those dark and harsh times). Representatives of the Tower Guard, who died of illness or old age, are still buried in the basements of the chapel today. In the very basements where fifteen hundred skeletons without skulls were found.
View of the Beauchamp Tower
In addition to priceless treasures, representatives of the Tower Guard, a tourist will be able to personally see and get acquainted with other "beefeaters", however, winged ones. Those who know the history of not only the Tower, but the entire United Kingdom, have probably already understood that we are talking about birds. Only not about ordinary birds, but about crows. The Crows of the Tower are a symbol and it means for the country it is not less than a precious crown and scepter. Ever since the time of torture and execution, these representatives of birds fell in love with the Tower: they always had the opportunity to peck out the eyes of a severed head. The bird is common and even annoying and harmful. But at some point, a legend appeared that as soon as the crows left the Tower, the power of the monarchs would fall forever and the whole of Great Britain would sink into the abyss. Even during the reign of Charles II, a decree was issued that six (!) Ravens should always live on the territory of the Tower. Probably, there is some kind of mysticism in this: according to esotericists, the raven is a guide to the otherworldly dark world, and there is probably no need to talk about the number 6. Everyone knows perfectly well what and with whom it is associated. Nevertheless, in London they piously believe in the legend and keep six black ravens in the Tower. So that they do not suddenly fly away, their wings are clipped. Whether there is any sense in this, it is difficult to say: an intelligent bird, and crows are considered the most intelligent of all birds, is unlikely to leave the place where every day they give her 200 grams of fresh veal, and once a week "pamper" with rabbits.Each raven has its own name and pedigree! True, the bird houses in the Tower of London are not six, but seven. In the seventh house lives a young unnamed raven (just in case). "Cases" have not yet happened: thanks to excellent nutrition and care, the Tower's crows live for over 200 years!
The inner courtyard of the fortress
In the White Tower, the interactive museum invites the traveler to experience personally how the knight felt during the duel. In addition, the museum displays a huge number of exhibits belonging to different eras and shedding light on the dark history of the Tower - the main symbol of Great Britain. After visiting all the premises, you should definitely visit Tower Hill, the very hill where death sentences were carried out. A memorial complex was built in the meadow; it is a pillow placed on a glass round podium. It is slightly crumpled, as if someone was lying on it. As you might guess, this symbolizes the people decapitated here. By the way, next to this pillow there is a stone on which the names of the executed monarchs and the date of their death are carved. An eerie and beautiful place at the same time. Perhaps fear and beauty are incompatible concepts, but on Tower Hill, as strange and terrible as it may sound, you begin to understand that death, even after centuries, has become beautiful.
Death and the Tower are like synonyms: they have become inseparable. For this reason the Tower is home to a huge number of ghosts. Many of their appearances have been recorded by reputable scientists.... There is even a huge collection of photographs of the Tower's ghosts, taken mostly with digital cameras.
Fragment of the ancient Roman wall
If you try to talk to any representative of the Tower Guard about ghosts, you can immediately come across a "blank wall of misunderstanding." It turns out that all guards, without exception, know ghosts, many of which are aggressive. The guards are afraid to even remember meetings with them, so as not to incur the wrath of the innocent murdered one again.
Despite all these horrors, the Tower of London is visited by more than 2.5 million people every year, according to statistics. For this reason, it is better to come to the main symbol of Great Britain early in the morning, then somehow you can get to the exhibits of the museum and take a photo of the courtyard, which in the Middle Ages was soaked in blood. In the afternoon in the Tower, literally, you can't turn around. Especially a lot of people gather in the prison fortress on October 31 on Halloween. Ghost legends haunt young people who are trying to take as many photos of the Tower as possible in order to catch a ghost in the lens.
If a tourist wants to visit the Tower not as part of an excursion group, but on his own, it would be best for him to use the metro. Traffic jams at the Tower are huge, and the entrance to the fortress-treasury is paid. The subway station where you need to get off is called "Tower Hill". To visit the museum and the main attraction of Foggy Albion, you will have to pay 11.5 pounds.
Students and children are also not admitted to the museum for free: a “teen ticket” costs £ 8.75, and a “child's” ticket costs £ 7.5. From early March until Halloween, the Tower is open from 9 am to 5 pm and closes at 4 pm the rest of the year. By the way, many people say that this mode of operation of the Tower is associated with the onset of dusk. When it gets dark outside the windows of the fortress, there should no longer be tourists within its walls, because it is at this time that ghosts become the masters of the gloomy architectural structure.
