This famous tower in Europe once housed a zoo

The iconic Tower of London, known for its multiple uses as a prison, royal residence and later home to the Crown Jewels, has a curious historical side. It’s about your past as zoo improvised known as The Tower Menagerie or House of the Menageries. Between the 13th and 19th centuries, this fortress became a peculiar refuge for exotic animalsmany of them were diplomatic gifts made between European monarchs.

The tradition began in 1235when Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire gave three lions to Henry III of England as a symbol of his marriage to Elizabeth of England. These felines were housed in the gardens of the Tower, which was then a royal residence. They were joined in 1252 a polar bear sent by Haakon IV of Norway and, in 1255, an african elephant gifted by Louis IX of France.

Over the centuries, the Tower housed a surprising variety of animals: monkeys, zebras, owls, eagles, tigers, leopards and even pumas. Although there was no concept of zoos like the current ones, the Menagerie was a private collection who occasionally received visitors. By then there were not as many security measures as there are now, in fact, there were cases of attacks by wild animals on curious onlookers and caretakers.

A living tradition

Since the 17th century, in addition to exotic animals, the Tower was home to crows. This was a decision by Charles II who decreed that at least six of these birds should reside there to avoid, according to legend, the fall of the British monarchy. In fact, there are still crows, thus keeping the tradition alive.

The transfer

In 1828, with the opening of the Zoo from London, the animals were moved to this new public space. Thus ended the Tower’s peculiar period as a home to wild beasts, but its legacy endures, and visitors can admire sculptures that commemorate these historic inhabitants.

Today, the Tower of London remains a place full of history and mystery, testimony of centuries of culturepower and peculiarities that make it one of the places most fascinating from England.