York in one day, what to see in the beautiful medieval city of England

one of the small most beautiful cities that we can visit in everything United Kingdom is, without a doubt, Y, located at north of england, where in a tourism trip From the south you arrive via the eastern route that takes you to Scotland.

You should know that the best sample of the historical importance of york is that during the Middle Ages It was considered, after London, the second richest city in Great Britain.

This wealth was due to its great commercial boom linked to wool.

Today, I can tell you that Y It is well worth a trip, and we should not consider it a simple place of passage in our possible driving route to Scotland.

In fact, I tell you that I have made a weekend getaway to England with the sole objective of visit york, flying from Madrid to Liverpool.

Curiosities of the history of York

Y has its origin in a Roman fortress which was built in the year 71 of the was christian, which was called york.

This enclave was very important and, in fact, in the year 306 he was proclaimed emperor. Constantine the Great.

Later, after the departure of the Roman legions, this Roman enclave came to be controlled by the Saxons, who called it Eoforvic, being the capital of the kingdom of Northcumbria.

As of 866, Y it happened to be occupied by vikings, who baptized her with the name Jorvic, origin of its current name with which it began to be known from the year 1000.

Los vikingos They were settled in York for just over a century and left a great influence of Scandinavian customs.

In the Middle Ages, between the years 1000 and 1500, was the great york boom, when it had more than 10.000 inhabitants and 40 churches.

Its decline came after the War of the Two Roses, at the end of the XNUMXth century, with the dissolution of the monasteries and the fall of the wool trade.

Nowadays you have the best exponent of the aforementioned rise of the medieval period when you visit its imposing gothic cathedral, the largest north of the Alps, which is known as the YorkMinster.

This is the experience of visiting York in one day

In order to plan your visit, it will be useful to know what is essential to see and do on your visit to York in one day.

Walk through the medieval center of York

If you are going to visit the city on your own, the first thing you should do is enjoy the atmosphere of a true medieval city, for which you simply have to walk through the narrow streets of the historic center of york.

I have to tell you that during the medieval times, and thanks to its great commercial boom, Y It became the second city in England behind London.

Jorvik Museum, history of the Vikings in York

You have consequences of his Roman era in the Wall of almost five kilometers in length that is still preserved, and of the Viking presence, in its Jorvik museum.

This museum offers visitors a unique insight into the Viking history in the city of York, which has had a leading role in the recent series on television platforms dedicated to the Vikings.

It opened its doors in 1984 and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

The museum is located in the Jorvik archaeological site, where important Viking remains were discovered during an excavation in the 70s.

The museum offers a immersive experience through interactive exhibits and authentic replicas.

Visitors can stroll through reconstructed streets that show the daily life of the vikings, witness animated scenes and participate in interactive activities.

La museum collection includes more than 800 original objects, ranging from tools and weapons to luxury objects and household artifacts.

The Shambles, where the best preserved medieval street in Europe is

On your walk through the streets of historic center of york You will see buildings that date back to the aforementioned medieval times, but above all you should not miss what is considered the most famous street in York.

Is The Shambles, which is the oldest medieval street in england, and is reputed to be the best preserved in Europe.

The Shambles you find it next to the center marketplace, very close to the york cathedral, and in reality it is a relatively short street but one that will be unmistakable.

It is so narrow that it may seem like the facades of some buildings on both sides of the street are almost touching.

The Shambles It is an old name that refers to the numerous butcher shops and slaughterhouses that historically were distributed along these narrow streets.

During your visit you will now come across buildings whose facades are inclined and contorted in a very striking way.

Note that the first historical quotes from this york street dates back Eleventh century.

And now, instead of the historic butcher shops (in the mid-27th century there were XNUMX in The Shambles), you will see beautiful windows of various stores that maintain their medieval air.

The Shambles It is also famous because on this street during the 16th century lived Margaret Clitherow, which at a time when Britain imposed Protestant religion, was tried and executed for having helped Catholic priests.

In 1970 she was canonized by Pope Paul VI, and chapel dedicated to Margaret Clitherow you can visit it at The Shambles.

York Minster Cathedral in York

If a essential visit in York, that is the majestic Gothic cathedral, as I have already mentioned, the largest in northern Europe, and which is known as the YorkMinster.

On your visit to the interior of the cathedral, you will be struck above all by its spectacular gothic stained glass and, specifically, the set known as the Five Sisters, very tall and narrow windows that date back to 1250.

Also noteworthy is the choir cancel, a stone wall with a succession of statues of kings of england.

And to complete the visit of this imposing Gothic cathedral, you must climb the cathedral tower, from where you will have the best panoramic views of york.

Boat trip in York

A tourist activity that you can do on your visit to York is a boat ride on the River Ouse.

Lasting one hour, on this tour where you will listen to comments in English you will be able to see various corners of the city center, such as Skeldergate Bridge, Courthouse or the Clifford Tower, vestige of the city's old castle.

In short, an essential visit in a trip through the north of england.

Map: where it is and how to get to York

La medieval city of york You will find it an hour and a half northeast of Manchester and 3 and a half hours north of London.

Photos of York

Here you have more photos of the medieval city of York, which you can visit in the north of England.