York's Medieval Walls


I took advantage of my only dry day in York to walk around the medieval walls. Although there are spots where you have to descend to ground level, the majority of the 3-mile walk is on the walls overlooking the town.


Micklegate Bar is the most important of York’s four main medieval gateways and was the one I walked through every day into town. Monarchs travelling up from the south stop at this Bar to ask permission to enter the city. The severed heads of rebels and traitors were displayed here in the past.


Modern coffee shops have been added to many of the gates.


Europeans are much more prepared to let people decide whether or not something is safe. Long stretches of the wall had no fence above the drop-off, although they do close off the walls if it’s icy.


The walk is a chance to peer down streets and even into a few modern homes.



My favorite part of the walk circled York Minster. There were some wonderful views into gardens as well as of the Minster itself. York Minster is the largest Gothic church in England. It’s both a cathedral, being a church, and a minster, being a centre of Christian teaching or ministering.



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