Lancaster, the main city of the Lancashire county of the same name, is famous for its long history. This city appeared at the mouth of the Lun River, about ten kilometers from the sea coast, more than a thousand years ago. Once upon a time, there was a Roman settlement here, as is customary. Lancaster, like most medieval cities, began with a castle that has survived to this day and attracts travelers from all over the world. In addition to its external beauty, the castle is shrouded in dark legends: in the Middle Ages, witches were tried and executed here.
A LITTLE HISTORY
Lancaster acquired official city status at the end of the 12th century, becoming the heart of the hereditary feudal lands of the respective house. In the 14th century, the city received a lot from the Scots, and during the revolution - from supporters of the royal house, who besieged the castle three times. By the 18th century, the city had revived and grown thanks to a busy trading port. After the return to the throne of the Stuart dynasty, a prison was established in Lancaster Castle, which performed its functions until the 20th century and became the longest functioning medieval prison in Europe.
In the most recent period of history, Lancaster became a serious and nationally known educational center. Here in 1964 a university was opened, which today is included in the top ten universities in Great Britain. The university campus is recognized as the safest in the United Kingdom.
HOW TO GET
By air - to the international airports of Blackpool, Manchester or Liverpool (international flights). By rail - from Manchester airport, as well as from Edinburgh or London. By bus from one of several national or international companies, including Eurolines.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
First of all, in Lancaster, the powerful and impregnable castle is inspected, of course - with a dungeon, a coat of arms hall with a wonderful collection, dungeons and prison cells that can be visited. Guided tours are held behind the castle. Throughout the year, the castle hosts various events, from opera concerts to children's matinees and Shakespeare productions. And on one of the slopes of the Castle Hill, you can see the ruins of the Roman baths and fortress walls.
Next to the castle stands an 11th-century monastery, and behind it is the former home of the castle keeper and ardent witch hunter Thomas Covell. The building is Lancaster's oldest town house and today houses the Museum of Childhood, with a collection of toys and games from the 18th century onwards, as well as an impressive collection of Regency furniture and period art.
Today, the castle is officially in the possession of Her Majesty, who bears the title of Duchess of Lancaster.
But in addition to the castle, the city is full of interesting sights. Among them is the Church of St. Mary, the exact date of its construction is unknown, but it probably dates back to the 15th century. St. Peter's Cathedral, built in the neo-Gothic style in the middle of the 19th century, is also interesting. The ancient Town Hall of the end of the 18th century on the market square today houses the city museum, one of the main treasures of which is considered to be a Roman tombstone dated 100 BC. BC there are. In front of the Town Hall on the square stands a monument to Queen Victoria, created by Herbert Hampton and presented to the city by Lord Ashton in 1906
In addition, the Evangelical Church of St. John, which is located away from the center, on North Road, and belongs to the monuments of the second category, is interesting. The church was built in the 18th century and looks more than picturesque from the outside. Lancaster also has an interesting Maritime Museum in the old Customs House on St George's Quay, a Countryside Museum in a tiny 18th-century cottage showing what life was like in glorious England in the early Victorian period, and several art galleries. The cultural life of the city is supported by two main theaters: the Grand Theatre, one of the oldest in Great Britain, and the Dukes Theatre. In addition, the largest European student theater at the university - Nuffield - was opened in Lancaster.
Williamson Park is an interesting city attraction. Here, on 54 acres of beautifully manicured land, residents of the city like to relax in their free time, admiring the coastline and landscapes of the Lake District. In Williamson Park, a greenhouse with butterflies, a mini-menagerie and an aviary are open. Here, the Dukes Theater puts on annual open-air performances. The park is famous not only for its natural beauty, but also for its structure, which was nicknamed the "Taj Mahal of the North." This is a memorial complex named after the same Ashton, a millionaire entrepreneur who commissioned its construction in honor of his beloved late wife. This memorial is most similar to a small full-scale Romanesque cathedral like the Vatican or London. There is an observation deck on the second floor, and an art gallery inside.
A wide variety of events and festivals are held in Lancaster every year. In October, it is an open (free) music festival under the open sky, in November - colorful fireworks. The most famous and significant event is the Tournament of Roses, the concept and name of which take us back to the 15th century, during the War of the Red and White Roses (that is, the houses of Lancaster and York). Today, the Battle of the Roses is a sporting battle between the students of the universities of these two cities, and many Britons flock here at this time to cheer on their own.
