WINDSOR CASTLE

After Buckingham Palace, it is the second royal place in England, one of the main official residences of the royal family, which still comes here very regularly, usually at Easter and for a week at the end of June. The castle is located in the Thames Valley, west of London, in the city of Windsor in Berkshire. Built 900 years ago by William the Conqueror, 40 km from London, to defend its western access, Windsor Castle has been a royal residence since the 11th century. It was redesigned and enlarged many times: cloister, porte Henri VII, Saint-George chapel founded by King Edward in 1475... King Edward III of England made this chapel in Windsor the cradle of the Order of the Garter in 1348. You can admire many paintings and family portraits and an important collection of armour and weapons. As an anecdote, on 20 November 1992, an important part of the castle - including the Saint-George hall - was damaged by the fire. The fire broke out in the private chapel and caused significant damage to the northwestern part of the building. As the building had not been insured, several royal residences were open to the public in order to raise the 40 million pounds needed for repairs. Since then, the best craftsmen in Great Britain have worked on its restoration, and the work accomplished is superb. It is here that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married on May 19, 2018, in the St. George's Chapel. Another unforgettable event.