Hereford

Hereford is a cathedral settlement in Herefordshire, England, positioned along the River Wye with a medieval church building as its focal point. Residential areas and fields spread around the center, giving the town its agricultural character.

The settlement received its first charter in 1189 from Richard I of England, recognizing it as an important trading center between England and Wales. Over the following centuries it developed into a regional market hub for livestock and agricultural produce.

The name comes from Old English words meaning army and ford, reflecting its position at a river crossing used by military forces. Today visitors notice the close ties to farming life through weekly markets where local producers sell their goods and residents gather to shop and exchange news.

The center is easy to explore on foot, as most points of interest sit close together and the streets are manageable. The Welsh Marches railway line connects the town to larger places in the region, making day trips possible.

The town is the birthplace of the Hereford cattle breed, which has since become one of the most widespread beef cattle breeds worldwide. Breeders started systematic selection of these red-brown animals with white faces here in the 18th century.