Culture of York. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

York is one of the few cities in the UK that has managed to preserve its unique medieval atmosphere. This is one of the most picturesque cities in the country and so it is distinguished by a huge choice of important historical and architectural sites. The Cathedral has remained the main symbol of the beautiful city for many centuries. The age of the church is more than five hundred years. Earlier the site of the huge cathedral, the height of the towers of which is about 40 meters, was occupied by a small Christian church. Later it was decided to destroy the modest temple and replace it with a larger religious object.

The plan of the cathedral was so big that its building lasted more than 400 years. Today experts in architecture can easily distinguish elements of various styles, the combination of which looks very harmonious and impressive. A large part of the original fortifications has survived in York. A walk along a strong stone wall is also a must-see destination of each excursion program. Tourists can see the huge gates that were used as the entrance to the city several centuries ago and visit the interesting museum, the exhibition of which is devoted to life of the city’s guards.

Jorvik Viking Centre is one more interesting cultural institution. This is a huge museum dedicated to legendary Vikings. It features a huge collection of exhibits that are very diverse. Here you will find models of old ships, maps, and antique weapons, as well as many other historical artifacts related to the legendary conquerors. The Vikings have played a huge role in the development of the city. In the 10th century York was the capital of the Kingdom of Vikings. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The suburban area of the city is the location of another important excursion object - Clifford's Castle. The castle is located on a high hill, from which visitors can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city. Today the building of the castle is used as a home to two museums that provide visitors with the information about important periods of York development. There is also an art museum that exhibits a rich collection of paintings and sculptures. Among other cultural institutions worth attention we simply cannot fail to mention National Railroad Museum. The collection of the museum includes antique locomotives and modern high-speed trains. The oldest exhibit was produced in 1829, and the newest and most accomplished – Mallard locomotive - just a few years ago.