Durham: the Norman cathedral on the river

Built on a peninsula wrapped by a bend in the River Wear, Durham preserves one of England's best-preserved Norman cathedrals, a filming location for several international films and series.

The centre, nestled in a bend of the River Wear dominated by the Norman cathedral, is easily explored on foot.

The Cathedral of Durham, begun in 1093, houses the tomb of Saint Cuthbert and is considered a masterpiece of Norman architecture in Europe.

Just steps away, Durham Castle, once the residence of prince-bishops of the region, today hosts part of the city's university, among Britain's oldest.

Descending toward the river, one walks along the banks of the Wear, crossed by medieval bridges that connect the different quarters of the old city.

As evening falls, the university's Oriental Museum, with collections of Chinese and Japanese art, offers a cultural respite away from the busiest tourist centers.

Durham Cathedral and Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1986, have been used as filming locations for several movies, including scenes from the Harry Potter films shot in the Norman cloisters.

Both the Cathedral and Castle stand on the same river peninsula—a single fortified tongue of land that has protected the city from attack for nearly a thousand years.