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Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people. What there is to see: The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and the famous triple portrait of Charles I by Sir Anthony van Dyck. In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe. From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle. St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world. The Drawings Gallery shows changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The special display below is shown alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library. Current/Forthcoming exhibitions: The Queen: Portraits of a Monarch Friday, 23 November 2012 to Sunday, 09 June 2013 Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most depicted women in the world. She has sat to numerous artists, from Cecil Beaton and Pietro Annigoni to Lucian Freud. Her portrait likeness, so widely circulated, has also inspired artists such as Andy Warhol, whose screenprint portraits of Her Majesty have been recently acquired for the Royal Collection and are displayed for the first time at Windsor Castle. Portraits of The Queen are made for a number of official purposes, ranging from photographs distributed at the time of a State Visit, to those that mark a particular anniversary. Portraits bearing a clear and recognisable image of the sovereign are required for use on coins, banknotes and stamps. Many of the works on display were created with one of these purposes in mind. This exhibition presents a selection of official, commissioned and formal portraits of The Queen, gathered here from the different Royal residences.
Packed with ever-changing experiences of the Pacific Coast and Vancouver Island, this tour is a must-do for
those who have not yet visited Victoria.
Highlights & Inclusions:
BC Ferries Fees: Scenic 1.5-hour cruise through the Gulf Islands and Active Pass
Victoria City Tour: Government Street, Chinatown, Inner Harbour
Butchart Gardens Admission: Magnificent series of themed gardens
Ample Leisure Time: Enjoy Victoria’s rich architecture, enchanting ocean views, and artisan cafes
Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people. What there is to see: The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Gainsborough and the famous triple portrait of Charles I by Sir Anthony van Dyck. In 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe. From October to March visitors can also enjoy George IV's private apartments (the Semi-State Rooms), among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle. St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. Among the highlights of a visit to Windsor is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, the most famous dolls' house in the world. The Drawings Gallery shows changing exhibitions of material from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The special display below is shown alongside a selection of treasures from the Royal Library. Photographer Credits: Image 1: Photographer: Mark Fiennes, Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 Image 2: Photographer: Dennis Gilbert, Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 Image 3: Photographer: Ian Jones, Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 Image 4: Photographer: John Freeman, Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2013 Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace has provided a luxurious retreat for many of Britain's most famous Kings and Queens. Henry VIII was so inspired by it that he spent three of his honeymoons here. And visitors continue to escape to Britain's greatest palace to experience its history, splendour and stunning scale. Discover what it was really like to live and work at Hampton Court Palace. Take a fascinating journey through 500 years of royal history. Marvel at the impressive architecture and opulent interiors of the State Apartments and see the vast Tudor Kitchens in full swing. Enjoy the breathtaking Great Hall and Chapel Royal, and see how Sir Christopher Wren transformed the palace to rival Versailles. Take time to appreciate one of the finest collections of Renaissance paintings in Europe, and listen to tales of intrigue at the royal court from expert guides dressed in full historical costume. Or enjoy an audio tour, available in 9 languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Korean and Japanese. They can be collected from the Information Centre in Clock Court. And that's before you've even begun to explore the stunning riverside gardens where you'll find the famous Maze and one of the world's oldest vines. ‘Top Ten’ things to see and do at Hampton Court. These sights are 'unmissable' Access to these sights is included in your admission ticket, unless otherwise stated. Henry VIII's Great Hall The Great Hall is England’s greatest medieval hall and one of Britain’s oldest theatres. William Shakespeare’s company performed there in 1603-4. Young Henry VIII exhibition Meet the 'pin-up' prince, before he became fat old Henry VIII, at our Young Henry VIII exhibition (included in your admission ticket). The exhibition includes paintings and interactive displays. The world famous Maze Test yourself and get enjoyably lost in 'the most famous Maze in the history of the world'. Entry is included in your ‘All Palace and Gardens’ admission ticket. A 'Maze only' entry is also available. Tudor kitchens Built to feed the Court of Henry VIII, the kitchens were expected to provide meals for 600 people twice a day. See the kitchens today and experience the sights and smells of a real Tudor kitchen! Beautiful gardens Wander through over 60 acres of beautifully maintained and internationally celebrated gardens at Hampton Court Palace. Entry is included in your ‘All Palace and Gardens’ admission ticket. Henry VIII: Heads and Hearts Join Henry for his wedding celebrations and see surprising portraits and personal objects of his wives. Family fun activities We have a wide range of activities and tours to entertain families. Choose from family trails, our world-famous maze, costumed guided tours, live Tudor cookery and much much more. The Chapel Royal This beautiful chapel has been in continuous use for over 450 years. Visitors are welcome to attend religious services at The Chapel Royal. Tiltyard café - kids' meal deal! History makes you hungry! At the Tiltyard café, choose from any kid's hot meal with lemonade or milk and a fairy cake for just £3.95. Deliciously great value.
The Sainte-Chapelle Be dazzled by the 1,113 stained glass windows at this jewel of the Rayonnant Gothic period. The first of the Holy Chapels to be decorated with exceptional stained-glass windows. Known for having housed Christ’s Crown of Thorns, it has spectacular stained-glass windows. Veritable walls of light that make the Sainte-Chapelle the jewel of French Gothic. The Conciergerie Discover this Medieval royal palace that became a revolutionary tribunal and Marie-Antoinette’s prison. Discover on the Île de la Cité, the exceptional Gothic rooms of the first royal palace of Paris and the reproduction of the prison cells of the revolutionary tribunal. At the end of the 17th century, numerous people were imprisoned in the prison of the Conciergerie, including Marie-Antoinette. The Conciergerie is also listed as a historical building by the Unesco. Pantheon On Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, visit the Panthéon, masterpiece of the architect Soufflot. Come and learn all about the Pantheon, this incredible building by Soufflot who's ambition was to outdo the churches of St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. Observe the style of this building, inspired by the Pantheon commissioned by Agrippa in Rome. From 1874 onwards, the sanctuary was decorated with paintings on canvas illustrating the life of Saint Geneviève and the epic story of the beginnings of both Christianity and the monarchy in France. Make the most of the Pantheon with a visit into the Crypt, get to see the tombs of the eminent personalities who shaped France's national identity. A permanent exhibition gives details about the lives and works of those who are buried here, from Voltaire and Rousseau to Alexandre Dumas. You'll also have the chance to see the Foucault’s pendulum*, first installed in 1851 and removed then reinstalled in 1995, this device demonstrated the Earth's rotation.
What there is to see: The Royal Mews is an important branch of the Lord Chamberlain's Office and provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car. It is also one of the finest working stables still in existence, responsible for the training of the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, the horses that pull the royal carriages. State vehicles are housed and maintained at the Royal Mews. They include the carriages used for royal and State occasions, such as State Visits, weddings and the State Opening of Parliament. Carriages from the Royal Mews are also used on roughly 50 occasions each year to convey newly appointed High Commissioners and Ambassadors from their official residence to Buckingham Palace to present their credentials to The Queen. Since 1843 the daily messenger Brougham has set out from the Royal Mews to collect and deliver post between Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace. The most dazzling of all coaches housed in the Royal Mews is the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821 Multimedia guide is included in the admission price and is available in the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian Guided tours in English are available at intervals throughout the day. Guidebooks are available in English. wheelchair access number- 0303 123 7324 Outdated Royal Mews closures. Please direct readers to the Royal Collection Trust website's closures list to ensure they get up-to-date closure dates. Use the following copy:As a working royal residence, the site is subject to closure or partial closure at short notice, please check Royal Collection Trust's website for the latest closure dates: https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/travel-trade-and-groups/tour-planning
