Hanging tapestries on the castle walls acted as insulation against the long and cold winters. Decoration was an incredible when wandering around the castle or other very nice and prominent residences. Soon after the kings of the land began commissioning artisans to make tapestries made with their emblems, insignia, or coat of arms to hang behind their throne. This became known as the major symbol of authority and leadership.

This textile art of weaving reached new levels during the 14th century in Europe, mostly seen in France, Germany and Switzerland. Two centuries later Europe's center for tapestry production became Flanders.

The company of artist William Morris, together with designer Edward Burne-Jones, started creating tapestries, medieval style, in the 19th century. Morris and Burne-Jones have created a number of very important tapestries, the designs of which are still being replicated to this day.

These European tapestries are popular in highlighting important times in history and in the arts and literature. The Bayeux Tapestry is a popular French tapestry, which illustrates the The Battle of Hastings in 1066. This was when Normandy invaded England. This tapestry depicts the events leading up to the invasion and the battle itself, during the Norman period of Europe.

One major European tapestry is "The Hunt of the Unicorn", which is a seven-part woven work of art about the hunt and capture of the mythical creature. This series has several underlying themes, although its evident Catholic allusion is the most evident and most accepted. Another one of the great European tapestries is "The Lady and the Unicorn", which depicts the five senses and finishes with the sixth sense of desire.

William Morris includes several tapestry pieces on Camelot and King Arthur, The Knights of the Round Table, The Quest of the Holy Grail. This theme produced an enormous amount of work in their European workshop. The most notable the quest for the Holy Grail, which is the chalice that Jesus drank from and was to hold magical properties.

Because of its rich history, European tapestries are popular around the world today. Because of the efforts of Morris and other European tapestry weavers, mass reproduction of these tapestry masterpieces is now possible. There are also tapestry replicas of various European artworks.

Getting replicas of European tapestry masterpieces is a great way to decorate one's house and at the same time own artistic masterpieces that are otherwise not accessible to the common public. Owning European tapestries is like owning a piece of history.