WESTMINSTER ABBEY

House of God, house of Kings. It is under this name that Westminster is known worldwide. Indeed, since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all the monarchs of England have come here to be crowned (with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII). Some have also been married here and others are buried here. The Queen and Prince Philip were married here in 1947, and Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2011... This abbey, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. The Gothic architectural style did not appear until 1220 when Henry III decided to rebuild the abbey, mainly following the architectural fashion of the time. His wish is also to pay homage to Edward the Confessor, whom he admires a lot, and whose tomb attracts many pilgrims every year. Close to the French court, Henri III was notably inspired by the cathedrals of Amiens and Reims for the reconstruction. Between 1503 and 1519, the abbey was enlarged under Henri VII who added the Lady Chapel, also known as the Henri VII Chapel. The building is influenced by the Renaissance style, and Italian artists were even called in for the work. Definitively completed in 1745, the facade is endowed with two huge towers built by Chistopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, which retain the original Gothic style. This blend gives the building a very special charm, despite the major restorations of the 19th century when many medieval elements were removed. The emotion is strong when one enters inside this place full of history. The coronation throne, which dates from 1296 and is placed in front of the chapel of Henry VIII, is also magnificently sculpted. Underneath this seat was the stone of Scone, one of Scotland's oldest symbols. A visit to the abbey is a must to discover the fascinating history of the kings and queens of England. Betrayals, murders and power struggles are detailed and explained in a setting that lends itself to the imagination. Westminster is also home to the memorial tombs of illustrious Britons including Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The famous Poet's Corner, located in the south transept of the abbey, contains tombs or monuments dedicated to Geoffrey Chaucer, John Keats, Lewis Carroll and, of course, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare, among others. In all, more than 3,000 people are buried in the abbey.