York Castle, Medieval castle in York, England
York Castle consists of a stone keep called Clifford's Tower, which sits on an artificial earthen mound and overlooks the area. Below stretch the remains of defensive walls, courtyards and outbuildings along the riverside.
William the Conqueror ordered the construction of this fortress in 1068 to secure control over northern England after the Norman invasion. The current stone tower arose in the mid-thirteenth century under Henry III as a replacement for an earlier wooden structure.
The keep is a quatrefoil tower, not a round one, built in the mid-13th century under Henry III. Its name recalls Roger de Clifford, hanged there in 1322. Visitors today climb the mound and walk the wall-walk for views over York's rooftops.
The site lies just a few walking minutes from the city center and is easily reachable on foot from most sights in York. A car park is located immediately next to the entrance area for visitors arriving by car.
The first castle was raised in 1068, and accounts claim it took only eight days, though this has been questioned. Its motte measured about 200 ft (61 m) across at the base, and hundreds of houses were cleared to make room. William Malet, sheriff of Yorkshire, held it against an uprising.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,365 contributors worldwide.
