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Durham Castle

England · 11th century

Durham Castle in England
Photo: Carla Brain · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been occupied since 1837 by University College, Durham after its previous role as the residence of the Bishops of Durham. Designated since 1986 as a cultural World Heritage Site in England, along with Durham Cathedral, the castle is open to the general public to visit, but only through guided tours, since it is in use as a working building and is home to over 100 students. The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham's peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral (grid reference NZ274423).

Text adapted from “Durham Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Durham Castle ranks #476 of 9,079 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #37 of the 360 mapped in England. Founded 1072, it is older than 88% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 436 atlas entries founded in the 11th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 5,854 times in the last 60 days, more than 88% of the atlas. 8 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Sunderland, 19 km away. See how England compares in the castle statistics.

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Read the full history on Wikipedia ↗

Frequently asked questions

Where is Durham Castle?

Durham Castle stands in England, at 54.7749°, -1.57558°.

When was Durham Castle built?

The atlas dates its founding to 1072. Earlier structures may have stood on the site; this is the earliest documented founding year.

Is Durham Castle a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes — it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, per its Wikidata entry.

How famous is Durham Castle?

In this atlas's fame ranking: #476 of 9,079 worldwide, and #37 in England. Fame here combines how many Wikipedia language editions cover a landmark with how many people read them.

What is the nearest castle to Durham Castle?

Brancepeth Castle, about 7 km away.

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