Newcastle in England
Newcastle (more precisely the name Newcastle-upon-Tyne), is located in England, in the county of Northumberland. Almost a quarter of a million people live in Newcastle.
Newcastle is located on the River Tyne, which had a major impact on the city’s founding. The city emerged with the construction of the first bridge (Pons Aurelius) through the Romans.
The Normans later discovered the importance of the complex and built a wooden fortress on the same site in 1080. This fortress was the so-called New Castle. A few years later the wooden fortress was replaced by a stone castle. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, walls were added to the castle.
In the Middle Ages, Newcastle became one of the most important trading cities in the country. The coal mining also brought wealth to the city through the taxes it received.
In the seventeenth century the area became famous for shipbuilding. A quarter of all ships worldwide were manufactured in Newcastle and the surrounding area.
Newcastle has some amazing sights to see for visitors. Six bridges cross the River Tyne in Newcastle. The best known is the Tyne Bridge, built between 1925 and 1928. The bridge influenced the design of bridges worldwide. The High Level Bridge is also worth a visit. It was designed by the well-known architect Robert Stephenson and was the first of its kind anywhere in the world. The high level bridge is divided into two parts. There are trains at the top and a road at the bottom. In addition to the large number of bridges, there is a lot more to see in Newcastle, such as the Grey’s Monument. It was built in 1838 in honor of Lord Gray. His statue stands on a column with a height of 41 meters. The St. Nicholas Cathedral is worth a visit. It was built in the fourteenth century and is now the seat of the Bishop of Newcastle.
Newcastle is known for its great nightlife as there are a large number of pubs, bars and nightclubs here. Most are centrally located around Bigg Market and on the downtown quays.
York in England
York is an English one city which lies in the north of the country. York is on the River Ouse, near where the River Foss meets the Ouse. In centuries past, York was the royal seat of the county of Yorkshire. In the present day York is an independent local authority, which only at special events the county of North Yorkshire is counted.
The Romans had already lived in York. Back then, the area York is located in was known as the Eboracium, which means something like the place of the oak trees. Visiting York is definitely worth it, as the city has a wide range of attractions to offer its visitors. York Minster
is in the center of the city. This is the second largest cathedral in Northern Europe. York’s city walls are also one of the city’s attractions. The wall dates from the Middle Ages and is five kilometers long. Here is a Moat, which formerly belonged to York Castle. If enemies were on the march, the fossa was dammed up, which represented an insurmountable barrier for enemies. Later the water was also known as Kings Fishpond, as only members of the Crown were allowed to fish here.
The well-preserved Cliffords Tower is well worth a visit. In 1190 the Tower was the scene of a terrible event. At that time, a small Jewish community sought protection from an angry crowd here on the Jewish Passover. Most of the Jewish faithful took their own lives before the enemy entered. This terrible event is seen as a chilling example of anti-Semitism.
Another impressive sight in the English city of York is the National Railway Museum. This museum is located directly at York train station and brings visitors closer to the history of the railroad in Great Britain. The National Railway Museum has the largest collection of various locomotives in the world. The highlight of the collection is the Mallard LNER class A4 locomotive. It set the record as the fastest steam locomotive in the world. The Flying Scotsman locomotive should also be seen. It belongs to the LNER class A3 and was the first to go faster than 161 km / h.
Music is also very important in York. The city has a long musical tradition. Every year there is a whole range of different music events in York. The main events are the York Early Music Festival and the Christmas Concert. Well-known music groups in the city are the Academy of St. Olaves, a chamber orchestra and the York Waits, who play in the university’s own band.
If you want to enjoy the arts while on vacation in York, head to the National Center for Early Music. Concerts, competitions and other events are held here on a regular basis.
Sport is also important in York. The footballers are rather mediocre. But the city’s rugby league has an impressive history to show. The performance of the York City Rowing Club is also remarkable. This is currently at the Lendal Bridge.
