Fun Facts about Windsor
Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest continuously inhabited castle in Britain and was originally founded in 1080 by William the Conqueror to defend London from the west.
The Semi-State Rooms, where the Queen receives guests, were severely damaged in a fire in 1992 during some construction work. Thanks to the construction, the furniture and decorations had all been removed.
It is actually thanks to this fire that you can visit Buckingham Palace today. That palace was opened to visitors to pay for the repairs at Windsor.
The Waterloo Chamber is a massive room that was built to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. The table in the room can seat 60 guests! The carpet weighs 2 tons, and it took 50 soldiers to roll it up and carry it to safety when the fire broke out in 1992.
This year, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the allied victory at Waterloo, tours of the castle include a themed trail that highlights objects seized on the battlefield (silver, furniture, weapons) and paintings, drawings and other material that explore the battle and the people instrumental in it.
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is the largest dollhouse in the world. It includes a garden, a library filled with miniature versions of classic works, and a fully stocked wine cellar. It even includes electricity, running hot and cold water, and working elevators and lavatories.
St. George’s Chapel, built between 1475 and 1528, is the architectural highlight of the castle and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. Ten monarchs are buried here, including Henry VIII, his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I (the only king to be executed).
Pictures from the official site of the castle http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/ and from http://www.windsor.gov.uk/
