Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle, a residence of the British sovereigns for nearly 900 years. It is on a hill overlooking the Thames river in the borough of Windsor (officially: New Windsor), about 20 miles (32 km) west of London. Windsor Castle is a cluster of buildings with walls, terraces, walks, inner courts, and gardens. The castle and its grounds occupy about 13 acres (5 hectares).
The buildings are grouped around two wards, or courtyards, with the imposing Round Tower between them. In the upper ward are the state apartments for official royal functions, the private apartments of the royal family, and the visitors' apartments. These apartments contain paintings, tapestries, and other works of art. The lower ward contains St. George's Chapel, Albert Memorial Chapel, cloisters, and other buildings.
South of the castle is Windsor Great Park of about 1,800 acres (730 hectares). The magnificent Long Walk, three miles (5 km) in length, cuts through the park. North and east of the castle is the smaller Home Park with the Royal Mausoleum in which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried.
William the Conqueror built a fortress on this site about 1070. Later rulers made additions and changes. Henry II built the Round Tower about 1170. Edward III (1327–77) rebuilt the state and private apartments. St. George's Chapel was begun by Edward IV in the 15th century. Extensive restorations were made in the 19th century. The upper ward, especially St. George's banquet hall in the state apartments, suffered extensive damage from a fire in 1992.