Probably one of the most amazing features of York is the fact that they have kept alot of the buildings and structures of old. For instance you can be walking through a street with all modern refinaries such as Hungry Jack's and all of that rubbish and then finally be confronted by a Medieval Tower. The whole city has a walkable wall going through it and the city contains much Viking and Roman history - the streets even have their original Viking names. Another perhaps chilling fact is that the city has a virtual horde of ghosts - to which their are tours running at night to visit the eternal awake...

Clifford's Tower, York, 15.01.00

Situated more or less in the middle of York is Clifford's Tower - historically the scene of a great tragedy. General anti-Jew feelings of the time led a group of people who didn't want to pay money back to them to herd them into this tower. One event led to another and many Jews threw themselves off the walls and killed themselves rather than facing the crowds - the ones that surrendured came out and were themselves torn apart by the mob.

Ghost House, York, 15.01.00

One of the attractions of York is the many ghost stories and tours operating throughout the city. Here is a portion of a house featured in one of these tours.

York Minster, York, 15.01.00 A.D.

The towering York Minster literally dominates the town of York, this photo being taken from the walls of Clifford's Tower. The Cathedral was first erected in 627 AD- though none of this original work is seen now as it was made entirely of wood and burned down later. The Saxon Minster then was built to which was torn down to be replaced by the Norman Minster to which is seen today. The Minster has suffered due to arson and general decay throughout the ages and restoration is an ongoing process. The Minster we see today now costs a pound to keep it in tact for 5 minutes - or so they say...below is a closer view of this mighty cathedral.

York was founded in 71A.D. by the Romans after conquering Celtic tribes in the area. After the Roman's pulled out in the 5th Century the Anglo-Saxons took over making it Eoferwic. In the 7th Century it was captured by the Vikings who made it into an important trading post, naming it Jorvik. The next change of hands was to the Normans. William of Normandy rebuilt the Minster and set up the existing walls around the city as well as the "bars" (medieval gateways), he also built Clifford's Tower (see above).

York soon lost its prominance to London and fell into decline in Tudor times. It became important once again through the English Civil War and the Georgian Period.

York has kept much of its history and still lives, by appearance, as it did of old - though the city has expanded past its medieval walls, and the buildings are still arranged in a literal maze known as "The Shambles". As well as this York holds a vast collection of museums - such as the Yorvik Viking Museum and attractions such as the York Dungeon. Its ghost tours - which hold no gimmecks - are also a tourist gatherer. And of course the sheer titan of the York Minster and Clifford's Tower are also a popular attraction. The people of York also are very proud of keeping their city like it was, even the street names for instance.