Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

72  BRIT AIN AND IRELAND

2 Canterbury
Kent. * 50,000. £ @ n The
Beaney House of Art & Knowledge,
18 High Street (01227-378 100).
( Wed & Fri.
Canterbury was an important
Roman town even before St.
Augustine arrived in 597, sent
by the pope to convert the
Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
The town rose in importance,
soon becoming the center of
Christianity in England.
Under the Normans, the city
maintained its position as the The domes and minarets of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton
country’s leading archbishopric.
A new cathedral was built on England. Beneath Canterbury’s more lavish, George needed a
the ruins of the Anglo-Saxon streets lies the Roman Museum, suitably extravagant setting. In
cathedral in 1070. It was enlarged highlights of which include the 1815, he employed architect
and rebuilt many times; as a foundations of a Roman house. John Nash to transform the
result, it embraces examples of all house into the fantastic Oriental
styles of medieval architecture. R Cathedral palace that we see today.
The most poignant moment Christ Church Gate. Tel 01227-762 862. Completed in 1822, the exterior
in the cathedral’s history came Open daily. Closed during services & remains largely unaltered.
in 1170 when Thomas Becket, concerts, Good Fri, Dec 25. & 7 8 Traditional seaside fun is
the Archbishop of Canterbury ∑ canterbury-cathedral.org focused on Brighton’s pebble
and enemy of King Henry II, beach. Brighton Pier, a late-
was murdered here. Trinity 3 Brighton Victorian pleasure ground, is
Chapel was built to house now filled with amusement
Becket’s remains. Sussex. * 249,000. £ @ n 5 arcades. Also worth visiting is the
Until the Dissolution, the Pavilion Bldgs (01273-290 337). ( maze of shops and winding alleys
cathedral was one of the chief Mon– Sat. _ Brighton Festival (May). from the original village of Bright-
places of pilgrimage in all helmstone, called The Lanes.
Christendom. The Canterbury Tales As the nearest south-coast
by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1345– city to London, Brighton is P Royal Pavilion
1400), one of the greatest works perennially popular. Old Steine. Tel 03000-290 900. Open
of early English literature, tells of The spirit of the Prince Regent daily. Closed Dec 25 & 26. & 8 -
a group of pilgrims who are (later George IV) lives on in the 7 limited. ∑ brightonmuseums.
traveling from London to magnificence of the Royal org.uk/royalpavilion
Becket’s shrine in 1387. Pavilion, where the prince
Adjacent to the ruins of St. resided with the Catholic widow 4 Windsor Castle
Augustine’s Abbey is St. Martin’s Mrs. Fitzherbert after their secret
Church, one of the oldest in marriage. As his parties became See pp74–5.
5 Winchester
Hampshire. * 36,000. £ @
n Guildhall, High Street (01962-840
500). ( Wed–Sat.
The capital of the ancient
kingdom of Wessex, the city
of Winchester was also the
headquarters of England’s
Anglo-Saxon kings.
William the Conqueror built
one of his first English castles
here. The only surviving part is
the Great Hall, erected in 1235
to replace the original. It is now
home to the legendary Round
Table of King Arthur, said to
Canterbury Cathedral, dominating the skyline have been built by the wizard
For hotels and restaurants see pp104–6 and pp107–9

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