Ancient medieval castle in Europe resumes public access once more
Norwich Castle Keep Reopens After Major Renovation
After a five-year renovation project costing around £27.5 million (approximately $37 million), Norwich Castle Keep in Norfolk, England, has reopened its doors to the public, making all five of its floors accessible for the first time in history [1][2][3][5].
The restoration project, known as the "Royal Palace Reborn," focused on restoring the castle's interior largely to its original 1121 Norman royal palace layout. This includes great halls, royal apartments, and authentic Anglo-Saxon furnishings in key rooms such as the kitchen, private chapel, King's chamber, and Great Hall [1][2][3].
The castle, originally built by William the Conqueror and completed by King Henry I, has transitioned from its former uses—including a prison—into a museum and art gallery rich in historical and cultural significance [2][5].
The castle stands 89 feet tall and is now fully accessible, featuring a state-of-the-art lift allowing wheelchair and pushchair access from the basement to the rooftop battlements [1][3]. It is touted as the UK's most accessible castle [3].
The reconstruction was informed by decades of research and involved reinstating original floors and uncovering hidden Norman and Victorian architectural features [1][2]. Funding came primarily from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk County Council, with a £13 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund specifically supporting the project [1][2].
Visitors experience immersive audiovisual elements, including laser projections and animations telling the castle's 12th-century origin story in the Great Hall [2][3]. More than 900 Norman artifacts loaned from the British Museum have been incorporated to create the UK's first medieval gallery outside London [5].
The renovation exceeded initial budgets by £7.5 million due to unexpected roof repairs and archaeological discoveries [2]. The keep is now dubbed the "People’s Palace" for its emphasis on accessibility and public enjoyment, aiming to elevate Norwich Castle as one of the premier castles in both the UK and Europe [1][3].
The grand reopening was celebrated in August 2025, with ceremonial events including an actor dressed as Henry I welcoming visitors [2]. With its enhanced accessibility, historical artifacts, and modern immersive technologies, Norwich Castle Keep is poised to become a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts.
Elsewhere Around the World
- Bodrum Castle in Turkey, home to one of the world's few Museums of Underwater Archaeology, was built by the Knights of Saint John in the 15th century and fortified using stones from the nearby 4th-century BCE Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World [4].
- An abandoned secret nuclear missile base in Lithuania reflects the political dynamics of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race [4].
- In 1972, four women posed at an English seaside resort in mini-skirts and flip-flops [6].
- Cambodia's Khmer Rouge torture sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July [6].
- A Venetian island is to become a locals-only haven, banning tourists [7].
- Kodak, responsible for 90% of film and 85% of camera sales in the United States in the 1970s, is facing potential cease of operations [7].
- The US firebombed the Japanese city of Kumagaya twelve hours before World War II ended [8].
- There are mysterious, mathematical origins to the creation of the world's only non-rectangular national flag [9].
- Lonely Planet has selected East Anglia as one of its top places to visit in 2025 [10].
- A dream Paris apartment is for sale at a bargain price, but there's a catch: someone must die [11].
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-56087450 [2] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/norwich-castle-renovation-reopening-b2153238.html [3] https://www.architecturendesign.net/norwich-castle-reopens-after-5-year-renovation/ [4] https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bodrum-castle [5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/articles/z5652r2qv7k58s8605c8z7jw/norwich-castle-gallery-opens-with-900-loaned-objects-from-the-british-museum [6] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62180716 [7] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/business/kodak-film-bankruptcy.html [8] https://www.history.com/news/us-bombed-japanese-city-kumagaya-before-world-war-ii-ended [9] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48937497 [10] https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/2025 [11] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58662150
- With the grand reopening of Norwich Castle Keep in England, travelers now have a new must-visit destination that combines lifestyle, history, and art, making it an essential stop on any home-and-garden or travel itinerary.
- Meanwhile, across the globe, Bodrum Castle in Turkey showcases the intriguing history of underwater archaeology, providing an interesting contrast to the modern and accessible architecture of Norwich Castle Keep.
