Lincoln Cathedral, Anglican cathedral in Lincoln, England
Lincoln Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral on Minster Yard in Lincoln's upper town, opposite Lincoln Castle. It is built of light-coloured stone with a long, steeply pitched roof, a tall square central tower topped with pinnacles, two western towers with spires, and a broad transept front with a large circular window and gabled porch. Flying buttresses run along the lower aisles.
The Norman king William ordered construction from 1072 onward after deciding to move the bishop's seat here from Dorchester. A severe earthquake struck the building in 1185 and required a large-scale rebuilding that shaped the Gothic appearance visible today.
The name derives from the Roman settlement Colonia Lindum that existed here during antiquity. Visitors today attend Anglican services with a mixed choir continuing a singing tradition that spans several hundred years.
The church opens daily shortly after 7 AM until early evening, and guided tours are offered in several languages. Visitors should note the steep approach to the hill, with a dedicated parking area available nearby.
One of four surviving original charters of the Magna Carta from 1215 rests in a specially built vault within the nearby castle for viewing. The central tower was the tallest in the world during medieval times and even exceeded the pyramids of Giza, until its spire collapsed in the 16th century.
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