White Tower (Tower of London)

You are approaching the oldest and most imposing structure in this fortress, the White Tower. William the Conqueror commissioned this massive stone keep in the late eleventh century specifically to intimidate the local population and secure his grip on London after the Norman Conquest. Its walls, which reach up to fifteen feet thick in some areas, were designed to be impenetrable, serving as both a powerful military statement and a luxurious residence for the king. Because of its sheer scale and sophisticated masonry, it remains the most complete example of an eleventh-century royal palace in all of Europe.