Durham Castle, Durham (must see)

In Durham, on a peninsula overlooking the wooded banks of the River Wear, sits Durham Castle. Its construction began in 1072 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The Earl of Northumbria, Waltheof, was tasked with building the Durham Castle until he rebelled against William and was executed in 1076. The castle then came under the control of the Bishop of Durham, Walcher, who became the first of the Prince-Bishops of Northumbria, a title that was to remain until the 19th century.

The Durham Castle is of typical Norman design. It consisted of a motte (mound) and inner and outer baileys (walled areas). During the rule of Henry VIII, the building was morphing into a palace. James VI, King of Scotland, was entertained there in 1617. Charles I of England visited in 1633 and again in 1639. The Durham Castle had become a Royal watering hole.

In 1832 The Castle became housing for students of the newly founded University of Durham. The building is dominated by its keep, erected in the 14th century. The greater part is built around the courtyard, entered through a gatehouse by the defensive moat.

Within the courtyard, there are the keep and the Great Hall of the west wing. In the Hall is a 500-year-old working kitchen. The Great Hall holds the imposing dining area used for scenes in the Harry Potter films. The Black Staircase of 1662 is one of the most impressive in England.

The Palace Green between the Castle and Durham Cathedral was once the location of the central market of Durham. The Green, linked to the town center by Owengate street, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a university don.

Designated in 1986 as a cultural World Heritage Site, Durham Castle is open to the general public.