The glory of one of the most important cities of the country Exeter did not acquire in modern times. The heart of Devonshire, this city on a wide and deep-water Exa has long been a significant cultural, industrial and commercial center of Great Britain. In the times of Jane Austen, wealthy businessmen lived here and profitable enterprises were opened. And today Exeter, it would seem, is a small town, a hundred-thousandths, impresses tourists with its rich heritage. Literally, every pebble here has some historical importance.

How to get to Exeter

There are two railway stations in the city: and the Saint-Davis train station. In addition, Exeter has an international airport.

A little history

The period of Exeter's rise as a city falls on the 11th century, when the cathedral began to be built here. Around the same time, the city was attacked by William the Conqueror, who built the fortress of Rougemont. And after the industrial revolution in the 18th century, many factories and manufactories appeared in the city, where wool was processed, leather goods and fine laces were made, and the economy of the city went up.

In music lovers' circles Exeter is known as the homeland of Chris Martin from Coldplay and the place where Tom York (Radiohead) and Matthew Bellamy (Muse) studied. All of the above groups (and also The Cranberries) started their career with a performance at the independent club The Cavern, which was opened in 1991 and quickly became a cult. Moreover, Exeter still has a store of the famous guitar master Hugh Manson, whose instruments were used by Dave Grohl from Nirvana and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin.

Exeter's entertainment, excursions and attractions

Exeter Cathedral was first built as a church in Norman style and was completed in this form in the 12th century . In the next couple of centuries the cathedral acquired already characteristic Gothic features, acquired two 50-meter towers, beautiful windows, a tower clock (14th century), and later - a throne (15th century) . @Nov Exeter Cathedral - one of the most famous in the country thanks to a unique body and the famous Galeries minstrelsy: it installed 12 sculptures of angels, who play different instruments . In addition, in the interior of the cathedral you can see the statues and sculptural groups; sculptures adorn and its western facade . It is believed that the Gothic cathedral is the longest in the world of the remaining intact .

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and art gallery were founded in 1865 . - then the first stone was laid at the construction . Museum located on Queen Street, near the main station and High Street . The original Victorian building was completed 4 years later and it was preserved almost intact . In 2011 .a large-scale renovation was completed, and today the museum again offers the public an extensive collection with expositions devoted to the history of Exeter and Devon since the prehistoric times . In addition, the museum has opened natural history halls of the whole world, with collections of ceramic and silver items, statues and many another .

The building of the town hall of the 13th century is on High Street, almost opposite the National Westminster Bank. Here is the famous pub "The Head of the Turk". The Town Hall was rebuilt in the 15th century, then in 16 it acquired a facade in the Tudor style, but still it is the oldest municipal building in the country. A pub, opened in the 15th century in a nearby room, is said to have hosted Dickens, and it was here that the writer found his Tolstyak prototype from the "Notes of the Pickwick Club."

Another excitement of Exeter, striking not so much its impressiveness as on the contrary - it's Parliament Street . The length of this street that departs from High Street and goes to Waterbier Street is about fifty meters . The street appeared on the city map in the 14th century and for a long time was considered the narrowest in the world: in the closest place its width is me its 65 cm, and in the broadest - a little more than 120 . Passing along Parliament Street to Waterbury Street and turning to the right, you will find yourself in front of a small medieval stone church of St. Pancras built at the end of the 12th century .

Naberezhnaya Exeter breathes a wonderful atmosphere and how specially it is intended for unhurried promenades (actually, it is). Here you can see the historic customs building of the 17th century (one of the first stone buildings in the city) and many other no less historic houses and warehouses built under Charles II.

Another curious city interesting place - underground passages . You can go down to them right after High Street, with Paris Street . This is a unique medieval gallery that was dug up in the 14th century to provide the city with a constant source of clean water because of the city walls . During the Civil War in the 17th century the moves made the city vulnerable, so they fell asleep, but then they unearthed it again and continued to use it as intended. . Today, for tourists, interactive displays are installed and an exhibition is organized, and after watching the video presentation, you can go on an organized tour of the tunnels .

Remarkable is Exeter's "Moved House" . This is a 14th century Tudor building that weighed more than 21 tons and was nevertheless moved in 1961 . from the rightful place on the corner of Edmund Street during the construction of the new road . House bandaged and gently pushed a few cm until they reached their current address at the end of Western Way . Directly opposite the "Moved House" is a paved medieval hill, called Stepkout Hill . The hill is built up by the houses of merchants of the 15th century, and once on it was the main entrance to the city from the west .

But at the same time it continues to be part of the main path leading to Stepkout Hill and the city. In addition, in the same area is remarkable church of the steps of St. Mary of the 12th century, located at the end of the West Street. This church is distinguished by the clock tower of Matthew Miller, built in 1620

From other religious buildings of the city of interest is the Benedictine monastery of St. Nicholas, founded in the 11th century. The building was partially destroyed under Henry VIII, but the general picture is preserved, and now there is a museum inside, where the dwelling of the Elizabethan period was reconstructed. The Exeter Synagogue is also curious, the third oldest in the country (built in 1763). Also worth a visit is the beautiful island church of St. Martin near the cathedral and the amazing old church of St. David.

Exeter, like any self-respecting truly British city, would be unthinkable without a green park. The Rougemont Garden is located behind the castle walls, and if you walk along the path to its top, you will find yourself at the gate in the wall that leads to the Nordernhey garden. It is believed to be the country's first public park.