Carfax Tower Tower Of The Church Of St Martin Carfax, Medieval steeple at city crossroads in Oxford, England
Carfax Tower is a stone steeple at the heart of Oxford, remaining from a medieval church that once dominated the city center. The structure features a clock mechanism with striking bells that sound every quarter-hour, and visitors can climb inside to view the city from above.
The tower was built in the early 1800s to replace the original medieval church structure after it was partially demolished in the late 1890s. What remains today preserved the church's role as a central landmark of the city.
The tower marks the center of Oxford's historic city center, where streets converge and people orient themselves. Today it serves as a familiar reference point for visitors and residents navigating the city.
An internal staircase leads up to the viewing platform, offering wide views across Oxford from the top. The best time to visit is on quieter days to enjoy the outlook without crowds.
The bell mechanism with its striking figures is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved of its kind in England. The continuous ringing of these bells has shaped daily life in Oxford for centuries.
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