Tower of Great Britain, London Resort
Rating: 8,1/10 (204 votes)  The Tower is a famous London fortress, one of the most recognizable historical sites in the UK. Located in the old town center on the north bank of the Thames. The Modern Tower is a historical monument and museum, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is believed that the founder of the fortress was William I, who built defensive structures to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons. One of these structures in the 11th century was the Tower Fortress. Later it was completed and improved. So King Richard the Lionheart erected several additional towers near the fortress, powerful fortress walls and dug an impressive moat, which made the Tower an impregnable structure.
For a long time, the Tower served as a royal residence. Until the end of the 16th century, the monarchs spent the night before the coronation in the fortress. And for three hundred years now, royal regalia and jewelry have been kept here. At the time of the coronation, they are taken to Westminster Palace with special security, but then they are always returned back.
However, the Tower gained great fame when it performed several other functions. The fortress minted coins, kept the state archive, housed an observatory and even a menagerie. Like most medieval castles, the Tower received not only kings, but also prisoners. The first prisoner got into the dungeons of the fortress in the 12th century. Then they were intended for prisoners of noble blood, this prison was visited by the kings of Scotland, France and representatives of the royal families.
The Tower gained an ominous reputation as a place of torture during the Reformation. At this time, Henry VIII, who had an obsession with getting an heir son, lost all connection with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who did not recognize him as the head of the English Church. Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, failed to give birth to an heir, for which she was accused of treason and treason. Anna and several other suspects were beheaded in the Tower. Henry's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and many other dignitaries suffered the same fate.
The Tower is interesting not only as a historical monument, but also as an architectural object. The modern fortress looks like a complex of buildings built and restored at different times. They are protected by two rows of walls, battlements and massive gates. Inside the building there are barracks, various services and a church.
The central tower of the Tower is the White Tower, erected by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It is the oldest building preserved in the city. The tower served both defensive and domestic functions. The White Tower was also intended to shelter members of the royal families. There you can see an exhibition of royal armor and instruments for torture.
Another fortress tower, Martin's Tower, houses an exhibition that tells visitors about the making of royal jewelry, diamonds and crowns.
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