A
Roman
city founded in the first century AD, Exeter is the historical
capital of Southwest England. Much of the old city was destroyed
during WWII bombings, but many of the ancient landmarks still
remain. Exeter Cathedral was established in 1050, but has been
rebuilt many times since. Its most notable feature is its twin
Norman towers. A 300-foot long Gothic vault, the longest unbroken
stretch of tierceron vaulting in the world, lies between the
towers. Also at the cathedral are the bishop's throne, the minstrels'
gallery and the cathedral library where the Exeter Book containing
Anglo-Saxon poetry is kept. The Green outside the cathedral
is a popular spot for picnic lunches during the summer months
and provides a panoramic view of the ancient buildings which
surround the Cathedral.
Thought
to be one of the oldest municipal buildings in the area, the
Exeter Guildhall was built in the fifteenth century and contains
collections of silver and paintings including one of Henrietta
Anne the daughter of Charles I.
Underneath
the city centre are underground passages which were used in
Roman times as a means of distributing clean water within the
City Walls. Guided tours are available of the passages through
the booking office at the top end of the High Street in the
alleyway beside Boots. Much of the old Roman wall has been preserved
and free guided walks are available which start at the Cathedral
Green. Details are available from the Tourist Information Office
in Paris Street. Rougemont Gardens are a pleasant escape from
the hustle and bustle of the High Street shops and within 2
minutes walk away. There is a Museum of Costume at one edge
of the gardens, nearest the library and in the summer open air
theatre productions take place at Rougemont Castle. The Quayside
has been restored in recent years and now boasts antique shops,
restaurants, bars and water-based leisure activities. It is
also the site of most of the nightclubs in Exeter.
Martock Travel