Tower of London

This impressive fortress was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, following his conquest of England. Initially built in wood as a simple keep, it was rebuilt in stone at the end of the 11th century to increase its resistance, it was once again under the reign of William the Conqueror. Back then, there was only one keep, which is now the four-tower building in the centre. Far from being the only keep in the town, it was nevertheless the most important. Shortly after the construction of this tower nicknamed the white tower, in reference to its light-coloured stones, the keep was surrounded by stone walls to form an enclosure and reinforce the defence system. During the rule of Richard the Lionheart over London: he decided to dig a moat around the surrounding wall and modernise the Tower of London. Over the centuries, it became the imposing building we see today. Although it was used for a long time as a royal residence, it later became a prison until 1952, housing high-profile individuals in very difficult conditions. You might come across a few ravens if you decide to visit the tower: these birds are carefully fed by master ravens, as they are the subject of a very special legend: it was rumoured that if the ravens left the White Tower, it would mark the end of the monarchy! As you can imagine, kings and queens did everything in their power to keep them there! Even today, the legend persists, as 9 ravens are fed at the Tower using public funds. Besides these birds, the Tower of London houses the Royal Armoury, the Rifle Museum and, above all, the Crown Jewels, featuring the largest diamond in the world!