Canterbury is a cute
and historic English cathedral city, which lies on the district of Kent, South
East England.
Its history goes back to the times even before
the Roman conquerors in the 1st century AD, when Canterbury was already a settlement
called Durou̯ernon (duro- "stronghold", u̯erno-
"alder tree"). After the conversion to Christianity in 597, St.
Augustine founded an episcopal seat in the city and became the first Archbishop
of Canterbury, a position that now heads the Church of England. Thomas Becket’s
murder at the Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 led to it becoming a place of
pilgrimage for Christians worldwide. The pilgrimage became the background for
the classic of Literature called “The Canterbury Tales” written on the 14th
Century by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Canterbury is a popular tourist destination:
consistently one of the most-visited cities in the UK. The Canterbury Cathedral
is one of the most famous religious structures in the world. I have to say, I
expected it to be much bigger, but its importance lies not on its size, but in
its history. Behind it, there are several ruins of the former St. Augustine’s
Abbey that once stood there.
St. Augustine’s Abbey ruins
the cathedral's ceiling
But there’s not only the huge cathedral to see
in Canterbury. The city is very nice to take a walk around and the river Stour
offers idyllic landscapes. There’s still a preserved city wall and gate
remaining from the roman times and several medieval ruins to visit. Parts of
the city are today UNESCO World Heritage protected sites. It’s the perfect
destination for a day trip outside of London!
a tudor house
The Westgate
River Stour and some of the idyllic landscapes
Roman Museum
Boat tour on the River Stour in the end of the day
