
5 Questions To Ask Yourself When You Visit Durham’s World Heritage Sites

Having seen the delights of one of England’s most South Westerly Cities in Exeter, it was perhaps an odd one to find ourselves heading to one of the most North Easterly Cities in Durham… but as Bill Bryson once so famously said ‘‘If you have never been to Durham before, go there at once. Take my car, it’s wonderful.”
So Question #1 – Why did the monks from Lindisfarne decide to relocate to Durham. Clearly it’s an impressive settlement now, but what made them choose it in the first place?
Every city should have Something special
So Question 2 – Why did William the Conqueror want to make Durham such an important strategic stronghold in the North (the Cathedral was built in only 40yrs!)
So Question 3 – If you can, find the stained glass window below and discover why it was commissioned and what it depicts (including the reason why one of the coloured circles is away from the others!)


Rumbling tummies by now try eating under the cathedral!!
So Question #4 – How did the Norman’s manage to build such an impressive defensive stronghold so quickly and did they manage it on their first attempt?
The best attractions generate the most interesting questions
The thought of what life must have been like under the powerful Prince Bishops (given that name as they could both rule and provide spiritual guidance… even raise an army or mint their own coins if they so wished!) was truly staggering!
So Question #5 – Just why does Durham’s World Heritage Sites have so many different coat of arms from the Hatfield Tomb to the Castle Walls.. It’s a lovely sight, but does it have a hidden meaning?
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Summary Need to escape for a few days? Want to compare weekend breaks to top cities such as Bordeaux, Rome or Copenhagen? Does your family love to explore new cities too? Do you also think that city breaks aren't just for adults and are a great way to learn, relax and bond as a family. If so, grab a seat, make yourself comfortable & discover some of the favourite 'family friendly' cities we've visited in our 700+ day European Roadtrip