Sightseeing in York

On Wednesday three of us went to London, Mark had a well deserved day off and everybody could do what they liked. We go for a walk round the walls.

The city walls and Clifford’s Tower are today the main visible reminders of the military importance of the city in medieval and earlier times. The walls extend for about 4 km, and except for one stretch where the presence of marshy ground made such defence unnecessary, surround the whole city. The city walls are interrupted by four great gates to the city, which are called “bars”in York, as gate means “street”, derived from the Viking word “gata”. Anyway – the four gates are called: Micklegate Bar (through which we came, when we went from our accommodation to the city), Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Bootham Bar).

The Castle of York – Clifford’s Tower – stands on a mound, built by William the Conqueror which, with a similar hill on the far side of the river, guarded the approach to the city from this direction. The present Clifford’s Tower was built in the 13th century. The 13th century castle was reduced to it present state in the 17th century after its powder magazine had exploded.

The segment of the walls between Bootham and Monk Bars allows the nicest views on the Minster.

In the Museum Gardens stands the Yorkshire Museum, which houses an archaeological, natural history and geological collection and the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey.

Until the reformation the Treasurer’s house – as the name suggests – used to house the treasurer, responsible for the finances of the Minster. The house was built on the site of the Roman legionary fortress in the 12th century, but the house was largely rebuilt in the 17/18th century, so that next to nothing of the house is as it was, when the treasurers lived here.

Before we go for a cruise a quick visit to the ARC – the Archaeological Resource Centre, where after a short video it is possible to lay hands on the explorations – mainly for children.

Two rivers meet at York: the Ouse and the Foss. The Ouse, at one time tidal here, enabled the city to become a great port and trading centre. We go for a little cruise on the Ouse. We go through Lendal Bridge past the Guildhall.

For the evening Mrs. Pattison and other helpful hands had prepared a farewell dinner. And a delicious sweet.

Die Fotos zur Reise finden Sie in meiner Gallery