Westminster Abbey

1.

WESTMINSTER
ABBEY
PREPARED BY
BULATOV ILDAR

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LOCATION
Westminster Abbey is
located in London,
United Kingdom. It is
situated in the
Westminster district,
near the Houses of
Parliament and Big Ben,
on the banks of the River
Thames

4.

HISTORY
Before the construction of the modern building,
the site was occupied by the old Palace of
Westminster, which had served as the residence
of English monarchs since the 11th century.
However, in 1834, a fire destroyed most of the
old structure, leaving only Westminster Hall
and St. Stephen's Chapel intact. Construction of
the new palace began in 1840 and lasted for 20
years. Charles Barry worked closely with
Augustus Pugin, who was responsible for the
decorative design of the building. Pugin,
renowned for his deep knowledge of Gothic
architecture, created numerous details,
including carved stone ornaments, stained glass,
and sculptures.

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TOURISM
The Palace of Westminster is visited by around
1 million tourists each year. It is one of the most
popular landmarks in London.
What can you do here?
1) Take guided tours of the Parliament
building to learn about the history of British
politics and architecture.
2) Visit Big Ben (officially the Elizabeth Tower)
and Victoria Tower.
3) Explore Westminster Hall, one of the oldest
halls in Europe.
4) Photograph the magnificent facades and
interiors in the neo-Gothic style.
5) Stroll along the Thames Embankment to
capture panoramic views of the palace.

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INTERESTING FACTS
CORONATIONS AND WEDDINGS
WESTMINSTER ABBEY IS THE SITE OF BRITISH MONARCH
CORONATIONS SINCE 1066 AND ROYAL WEDDINGS, INCLUDING THE
MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM AND KATE IN 2011.
POETS' CORNER
GREAT WRITERS AND POETS SUCH AS CHAUCER, DICKENS,
SHAKESPEARE, AND HARDY ARE BURIED OR COMMEMORATED HERE.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1245, AND SOME PARTS WERE COMPLETED
ONLY IN THE 18TH CENTURY, MAKING THE ABBEY A UNIQUE BLEND
OF DIFFERENT ERAS.