Durham, England Cruises

Durham, England Cruise Port

Located on the River Wear, Durham is an historic city and a county town of County Durham in North East England. Durham Cathedral, the burial site of Celtic and Northumbrian Saint Cuthbert, became a much traveled pilgrimage site in the middle ages. The cathedral and its adjacent 11^th-century castle were both named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1986. The castle has also housed the world-renowned Durham University since 1832. Translated from the ancient Celtic language, Durham translates to Hill Fort Island. However, some attribute the city’s name to the legend of Dun Cow about a milkmaid who inadvertently guided the monks carrying the body of St. Cuthbert to the city while searching for her wayward cow. The entire center of the city is designated a conservation area that, in addition to the cathedral and its castle, also has over 630 listed buildings to be maintained by Historic England.

• Visit the city’s absolute must-see site, Durham Cathedral. A place of worship and hospitality, the church openly displays religious artifacts and the finest Romanesque architecture.
   
• Explore the Oriental Museum and observe northern England’s only site devoted entirely to the art and archeology of the Northern Africa and Asian cultures.
   
• Venture to the medieval manner known as Crook Hall and be sure to check out its marvelous gardens. As one of the city’s oldest inhabited houses, various stylistic changes are visible to create a modern marvel reflecting many different centuries.
   
• For a lovely, serene stroll along the river, hit up the Durham Riverside Walk. Starting at the cathedral, this is the perfect path to see the quaint, practical houses the make up the area.