Carlisle is a city in Cumbria in north-west England. Settlement in the Carlisle area dates to the time before the Roman conquest of England. The Romans established the city of Luguvalium, and they built a fort here in the year 73. A few years later a garrison was stationed in the strategically important city. In year 122, Hadrian visited the area, and at that time Hadrian’s Wall was built as a defense to the north. More soldiers arrived, and the Romans were in the city until the end of the third century.

When the Normans conquered England in 1066, Carlisle was part of Scotland, but William Rufus changed that in 1092. The following year, Carlisle Castle was built, and the city developed behind its city walls. During this time, there were also ongoing battles between England and Scotland for the area. Even after the union between the two countries, Carlisle remained a large garrison town. With industrialization, Carlisle became a city known for several factories within not least textiles.

Today you can take some lovely walks in the center of Carlisle, which has nice streets and several interesting sights. You can start in the central square, where English Street, Scotch Street, Fisher Street and Castle Street meet. Here you can see the Market Cross Monument from 1682, where there is a sundial and a lion with the coat of arms of Carlisle. You can also go for a walk in the narrow streets and, for example, to The Market Hall in Fisher Street. The Market Hall was built 1887-1889 and is a fine covered Victorian market.

In the center you can see Carlisle Cathedral as well, which is the city’s Anglican cathedral. The large church was founded as a monastery church in 1122, and it achieved the status of a cathedral in 1133. However, not much of the 12th-century church has been preserved, because a major extension was carried out from the 13th century.

The cathedral is beautifully decorated, and the fine stained-glass windows in the choir are from the 14th century and are particularly famous for their fine craftmanship. To the south of the cathedral you can see St Cuthbert’s Church, built in 1778 as the fourth on this site. North of the cathedral is the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, which tells the story of Carlisle from Roman times to present day.

North of the city center is the city’s biggest attraction, Carlisle Castle, which has been the scene of many historical events over time. The area was the northernmost in the Roman Empire, and the Romans built the fort Luguvalium on this site, which was at the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. In 1093, King William II started the construction of Carlisle Castle in the border region with Scotland. In 1122, Henry I started an extension of the fortress and construction of city walls.

Carlisle Castle changed hands many times between the English and the Scots, and in 1567 Mary Stuart was imprisoned here. In the 19th century, parts of the castle were demolished to obtain building materials, but the building is still well preserved, and there is a museum here.