1. Durham

2. Durham is a capital city of County Durham and lies in the north east of England. Castle from 11th century and Cathedral are the jewels of this city. In 995 a group of monks from Lindisfarne choose the strategic peninsula as a rest place for body of saint Cuthbert. Local history says that they were brought here by a dairymaid whose cow had run away and people says that it was a divine intervention.

3. Saint Cuthbert is known as the ‘wonder worker of England’ because of his miraculous healing powers. There are also many stories of those who got cured just by visiting his shrine. Before the reformation the saint Cuthbert’s shire was the most important religious site in England until the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury. In 1093 started the reformation of the Cathedral how we know it today.

4. Durham castle was originally built by the Normans in 1071 after William the Conqueror has returned from campaign in Scotland. Some parts of the caste were built in later period especially the Victorian extension by Anthony Salvini. Both buildings are included in the UNESCO. In 1837 the castle became residence of University college the first faculty of Durham university. Three centuries after castle was finished, Durham was regularly besieged by Scots. Durham castle was originally built by the Normans in 1071 after William the Conqueror has returned from campaign in Scotland. Some parts of the caste were built in later period especially the Victorian extension by Anthony Salvini. Both buildings are included in the UNESCO. In 1837 the castle became residence of University college the first faculty of Durham university. Three centuries after castle was finished, Durham was regularly besieged by Scots.

5. In Middle Ages the Bishop of Durham was very powerful for two reasons. First, because of the founding of the city the bishop has always enjoyed title ’Bishop by Divine Providence’ opposed to all other bishops who are 'Bishop by Divine Right'. Second Westminster was so far away that bishop was allowed to keep his own army, administer his own laws, mint his own coins, levy a taxes, hold his own parliament and more. These powers were limited by Henry XIII who also ordered the destruction of the saint Cuthbert’s shrine in 1538.