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History and Highlights . . .York

© Diane Goldberg under the original topic name

Crowned by her magnificent cathedral, York sits on the banks of the River Ouse and the middle of the route of "the Flying Scotsman." Fast trains leaving frequently from London's King's Cross speed the history buffs and shopaholics to England's second city. With a wide range of restaurants and some of the UK's most tempting boutiques in the shadow of a huge gothic cathedral, York is an attractive destination for overseas visitors and natives of the British Isles. York packs more tourist attractions per cobblestone than any other English city. Smack dab in the middle of Herriot country, with the romantic moors that inspired the Bronte sisters bordering the city, and a wealth of museums, York has a variety of options that will suit any traveler.

Originally York was a Roman fortress built in 71 AD. York's most famous ghosts are remnants of the Roman Legion. In the basement of the Treasurer's House Roman remains are on view - a few legionnaires have shown up among the rocks. Constantine the Great, who founded Constantinople, was crowned Roman emperor in York in 306AD.

Equally popular with invading Vikings, the name York derives from Yorvik, the Viking name for the city. Many street names and pale blonde residents reflect the town's Viking past. The Yorvik Viking Center is an excellent time car display of this portion of Yorkshire history.

Under the conquering Normans, the city became a vital center for religion, government, and commerce. York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral North of the Alps, was completed. Clifford's Tower, site of many tragic events, was part of the original Norman fortress. Following York's original Roman walls, the city has always had a defensive structure. Along with portions of the Roman walls, an extensive network of medieval walls remains around the city. A wall around the three miles of existing medieval wall provides views over all the important structures of York.

York also boasts the York Castle Museum, one of the most visited museums in the UK. The museum is a museum of everyday life complete with Edwardian shop fronts and Victorian rooms. The National Railway Museum resides in York. The Yorkshire Museum boasts an extensive archeological collection with rare Roman mosaics, extensive Viking relics and the most important piece of Gothic Jewelry found this century - the Middlham jewel.

Any ghoulish fancies or fascinations you may harbor are brought to life - or at least undeath - in the Yorkshire Dungeon, reminder of a less civilized time when torture was de riguer for wrong do-ers. The Friargate Wax Museum presents you with a costumed collection of English monarchs.

The copyright of the article History and Highlights . . .York in Traveling on a Budget is owned by Diane Goldberg under the original topic name. Permission to republish History and Highlights . . .York in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.