Durham Cathedral, Anglican cathedral in Durham, England
Durham Cathedral is a Norman cathedral in Durham, England, built from 1093 in pale golden stone. Its nave has massive stone columns with carved spiral and diamond patterns, and the pointed rib vault of the nave is the earliest surviving example of its kind. The central tower, rebuilt in the 15th century, rises above matching wings with pointed-arch windows.
Bishop William de St-Calais founded the Benedictine priory in 1083 and laid the foundation stone on 11 August 1093, replacing the Saxon White Church. The nave's pointed rib vault, finished around 1135, is the earliest surviving example of its kind; the Galilee Chapel followed in the 1170s and the western towers around 1200.
The cathedral houses the tombs of Saint Cuthbert and Saint Bede, drawing thousands of religious pilgrims to this sacred northern English site.
Access is available daily, with guided tours offered in several languages. The interior pathways are mostly level, though some areas are reached only by stairs.
The nave's pointed rib vault, finished around 1135, is the earliest surviving example of its kind. The columns alternate between spiral and diamond carvings, and the stone was cut from the cliffs below the walls and hauled up by winches.
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