Dover Castle, England

The Dover Castle is a medieval castle located on a high cliff at Dover, Kent in England. The current Dover Castle, often referred also as the Key to England, was built between 1170 and 1180 by Henry II although its history dates back to the Iron Age. The castle went through improvements during the next centuries especially after the siege in 1216 by Prince Louis of France who managed to breach the defences but failed to seize the castle. During the English Civil War (from 1642 to 1651) was the Dover Castle captured by Parliamentary Forces but the castle was spared from despoliation and destruction that usually occurred to other castles after seizure of Cromswell's forces.



In the 18th century during the Napoleonic Wars (c.1803–1815) the Dover Castle went through massive rebuilding and in first place improvement of defences. At that time were also extended the medieval underground tunnels under the castle which played an important role also during the World War II when they were first converted into an air-raid shelter and later into a military command centre and underground hospital. Today is the Dover Castle officially owned by the English Heritage and is with underground tunnels open to the public.