The Cathedral and Castle in Durham stand together on a lofty plateau surrounded on three sides by the River Wear. Together they represent the Norman domination of England and symbolise the spiritual and temporal powers of the Prince Bishops, who for centuries were amongst the most powerful men of Northern England. The relationship between the two buildings towering over the adjacent streets of the town inspires awe.
Durham Cathedral is one of the most famous medieval religious houses in England. The building is a precursor of the Gothic Style, but at the same time an emphatically Romanesque Building and the major enduring statement in Britain of the majesty of early Norman Architecture. It houses the shrine of St. Cuthbert, the greatest saint of the North Country and the most charismatic figure of the early Christianity in England. During some 900 years of occupation, the role of the castle has changed from fortress to an Episcopal Palace and then to a University College. Whilst the consequences have been alterations and additions, its original role as a 'Norman motte and Bailey castle remains unmistakable.