Windsor Castle

Edward III established at Windsor Castle in 1348 The Most Noble Order of the Garter, the kingdom's highest order. Only 26 knights or ladies may belong to it, although their number can be added to by "extra knights". The order is thought to have been founded at a festival at which a lady of the court lost her garter. This resulted in much laughter and caused Edward to remark that shortly it would be an honor for his knights to receive such a garter. The Most Noble Order of the Garter was an attempt (following King Arthur's Round Table) at the end of the Middle Ages, when the knighthood was already in decline, to establish a select group of brave men and women, who would protect the knightly virtues. The order's insignia comprises on celebratory occasions a chain with the inscription "The George", and at certain events a ribbon with the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense" (Evil be (to him) who thinks evil of this), which men wear below their left knee and women on their left upper arm.

The castle is built around two courtyards, the Upper Ward and the Lower Ward, with the Round Tower between them in the Middle Ward. Entrance to the site is through the monumental Henry VIII's Gateway, erected by Henry VIII in 1511 and displaying elements of Tudor style.The gateway leads into the Lower Ward, on the far side of which is St George's Chapel. The chapel of the Knights of the Order of the Garter, it is dedicated to their patron saint, St George. Begun by Edward IV in 1474 and completed by Henry VIII, St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular architecture. The facades are decorated with heraldic animals and shields of the ruling houses of Lancaster and York. In the north there are falcons, deer, bulls, black dragons, hinds and grayhounds for the Yorks, in the south lions, unicorns, swans, antelope, panthers and red dragons for the Lancasters. The fan-vaulting in the nave and in the choir is impressive. The stained glass west window (1503-1509) features 75 figures, representing the community of the church and the state. The chapel has numerous monuments and many tombs of the English Royal Family and the nobility; the north aisle contains, among others, the tombs of George V and Queen Mary. Of particular splendor in the choir are the stalls (1478-1485), carved from Windsor oak, of the Knights of the Order of the Garter, which depict scenes from the life of St George. Behind and above the stalls can be seen the coats of arms, banners and decorative plumes of 700 Knights of the Order. Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, and Charles I are interred in the vault beneath the choir, while Henry VI, Edward IV and his wife, and Edward VII and Queen Alexandra are buried in the sacristy.

The Albert Memorial Chapel was built by Henry VII in 1500 to contain his own tomb, but was not used for this purpose (Henry VII is buried in Westminster Abbey in London). Since 1861 the chapel has been dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria's husband. The interior is elaborately decorated with colored marble, mosaics and sculptures, and contains the porphyry sarcophagus of the Duke of Clarence (1864-1892), the eldest son of Edward VII; the marble figure on the west door depicts the Duke of Albany (d. 1884) wearing Scottish costume.

On the south side of the Lower Ward are the houses of the Military Knights of Windsor, who belong to The Most Noble Order of the Garter. The Horseshoe Cloisters (named after their shape) were built between 1479 and 1481 in the half-timbered style. Dean's Cloisters and Canons' Cloisters, the former homes of the dean and the canons, are also very picturesque.

On the north terrace, from which there are fine views, is the entrance to Winsor Castle's state apartments. The rooms were extensively restored by Wyattville; several of them, including the reception room, the Queen's Gallery and the dining hall, have magnificently painted ceilings, the work of Antonio Verno, and woodcarving by Grinling Gibbons. Art treasures found here include a large picture collection (featuring Holbein, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt and Canaletto), valuable period furniture and weapons, including, in the Grand Vestibule, the bullet which killed Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. There are also exquisite French tapestries, porcelain, and glass and silverware. The great fire of 1992 destroyed St George's Hall.

A visit should also be paid to Queen Mary's Doll's House, a masterpiece of craftsmanship presented to Queen Mary in 1924.

The Round Tower, surrounded on three sides by a deep moat, was originally built by Henry II, and raised to twice its height by Wyattville in 1830. The climb up to a 79ft/24m-high viewing platform is rewarded by a marvelous panoramic view.

Home Park encloses Windsor Castle to the north and east. Inside the park stand Frogmore House and Mausoleum, in which Queen Victoria is buried together with Prince Albert. Great Park extends along the south side of the castle for 5.6mi/9km and has an impressive stock of red deer.

Curfew Tower, built in 1227, which incorporates some of the oldest masonry in Windsor castle. The front and the roof were rebuilt in 1863. Within the tower is part of a 13th century dungeon, with the beginning of an escape tunnel which was frustrated by the thickness of the walls. Straight ahead from the gateway are the Horseshoe Cloisters (restored 1871).