EXETER, England
The capital of the Southwest, Exeter blends two worlds, the old Cathedral city and the new cosmopolitan centre with the latest facilities. Today Exeter is the administrative and cultural centre of Devon.
History
The city of Exeter is also known as “The Historic City” due to its rich historical heritage. In the past it was the fourth wealthiest city in England.
Exeter is one of England’s oldest cities with a 2000 years history. The Roman heritage is obvious as they were the first to develop the city as a walled town then the Normans rebuilt them. You can still see part of them. An as you cross the bridge over the Exe river you can see the remains of the original medieval town and the fact that over the years the river changed it course.
Exeter is a city that wants to conserve its past, but still go with the new so there are some buildings that have been changed from their original position to make way to improvements. an example of this compromise is the “House That Moved”, a 16th century home located now north of the bridge.
Attractions
The first stop when you arrive in Exeter should be the tourist Information Centre located in the Civic Centre which is next to the Bus Station. There you can get all the necessary brochures, street maps and information which you can use to plan your visit.
Exeter’s Cathedral is one of the finest examples of decorated Gothic work with some unique Norman towers and the tallest Bishop’s Throne in England. The 850 years old majestic cathedral dominates the city centre and is the city’s centerpiece.
Quayside This is one of the most interesting spots in the city, dates back to the 17th century and is close to High Street and the Cathedral. in the past it was a busy port dealing with the import and export of goods but now it is full of antique and craft shops, and of course pubs that are hosted in the old buildings.
One of these old buildings is the Old Quay House, a beautifully restored building where you can find out more about the history of Quayside with the help of numerous exhibits. It is free of charge.
Quayside is visited by a lot of people especially by art collectors as here they can find some of the finest antiques.
Not far from High Street is the Underground Passage an ancient monument dating from the 14th century.
The Riverside Valley Park is an excellent place to ride your bike or stroll along the canal with hardly any traffic, nice scenery and plenty of pubs.
Museums
Being a historic town one would expect a lot of museums and places of historical interest and indeed Exeter has plenty of museums. One of the most interesting and visited is the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery hosting displays of international importance. It is a free of charge museum where you can learn about local history, geology, plants and animals and also about the world’s other cultures hosting galleries called World Cultures Galleries.
Exeter is the perfect destination for history buffs exuding a unique charm that attracts visitors from all over the world.
