Cultural
Cathédrale et château de Durham
Located in northeast England, Durham Cathedral and Castle stand together on a dramatic peninsula formed by a bend in the River Wear. The cathedral, constructed beginning in 1093, represents a masterpiece of Norman architecture and houses the shrine of Saint Cuthbert, a significant medieval pilgrimage site. The castle, built around 1072, served as the residence of the Prince Bishops who held both ecclesiastical and secular authority over the region. Together, the cathedral and castle form an exceptional testimony to the integration of religious and political power in medieval England, their architectural quality and historical importance warranting their UNESCO World Heritage designation. The interplay between the Romanesque cathedral with its distinctive ribbed vaults and the fortified castle creates a distinctive urban landscape that reflects centuries of northern English history.
