Five curiosities you may not know about Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a palace and royal residence located in Windsor, County Berkshire, United Kingdom, important for its long-standing relationship with the British Royal Family and for its architecture. Since the time of Henry I of England (12th century), it has been inhabited by numerous British monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II for a period. The beauty of the castle is such that it has now entered the hearts of the English on a par with other buildings such as Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Such an estate holds many mysteries and curiosities that perhaps not everyone knows about. Centuries of history speak through the thick stone walls of the castle, and it is perhaps interesting to know something of its past.

So dear to the British royals and to the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth II herself, Windsor holds the record as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. The fortress covers 5 hectares of land on the south bank of the Thames and the Queen often spent weekends, Easter and the Royal Ascot event there.

The upper part of the palace houses the famous royal library, containing very old texts that are especially important for English literature, but not only. Inside the library, in fact, there is also an incredible collection of drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Hans Holbein the Younger and many other immortal artists.

In 1992, a tremendous fire caused enormous damage to nine Semi State Rooms, the state rooms used by monarchs for official receptions. The fire spread over about one fifth of the total area of the residence. Enormous restoration work, which cost a total of £37 million, allowed the residences to be rebuilt exactly as they were before the fire.

It should come as no surprise that many British royals are buried inside Windsor Castle. Among the most famous are Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, George V and Queen Mary. Queen Elizabeth II also rests here.

Also inside Windsor Castle is what is probably the most famous doll's house in the world. The English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens worked on it for three years, from 1921 to 1924. The house was intended for Queen Mary. Specifically, it is an almost perfect 1:12 scale replica of an aristocratic house from the 1920s.