Today, Dover Castle is managed by English Heritage and serves as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. Visitors can explore:
- The Great Keep with its medieval architecture and exhibitions about royal life.
- The Secret Wartime Tunnels, which have been preserved and opened to the public.
- The Tudor Artillery Fortifications, showcasing early modern military architecture.
- Various exhibitions and reenactments that bring to life the castle’s rich history.
Extensive conservation efforts have ensured the preservation of the castle’s stonework, walls, and underground tunnels, allowing visitors to appreciate this living monument to English history.
Architectural Highlights of Dover Castle
- The Great Keep: One of the largest and most powerful keeps built in England during the 12th century, it remains remarkably intact, with its imposing walls and grand interiors.
- The Gatehouses: Multiple fortified gates protect the castle, including the Foregate and Barbican, designed to thwart attackers.
- The Secret Wartime Tunnels: Over two miles of tunnels carved deep into the chalk cliffs, featuring wartime command rooms, barracks, and even a hospital.
- The Curtain Walls and Towers: These surround the castle, reinforced over centuries to adapt to changing military technology.
- The Tudor Gun Platforms: Positioned to command the approaches from the sea, illustrating early artillery fortification design. shutdown123