One of the most famous cities in Great Britain, Bath(Bath) lies on the Avon River in the southwestern part of England, just 16 kilometers southeast of Bristol. The main town of Somerset County and seat of the bishop, it is small in size, but deservedly considered one of the most interesting cities country. In these places, the bend of Avon bends around the southern edge of the protected the Cotswolds hills(Cotswolds) and Lansdowne plateau(Lansdown, 238 m), forming a picturesque floodplain. Once it was all cut by river channels and swamps, but after irrigation and drainage of water into the canal, the city got rid of the once regular floods, and the freed up land was given over to urban development and numerous parks.
But it was not at all the beautiful landscapes that brought Batu fame - the town is the only place in the UK where thermal springs come to the surface. mineral water, which makes it the main spa resort in the country. Known in this role since antiquity (the Romans called this place Aquae Sulis, Aquae Calidae, or Bathonia), it even acquired its name thanks to this natural phenomenon ( Bath in English still means "bath", "bath"). The hot springs to which the city owes its existence are formed by groundwater rising through limestone rocks from a depth of 2700-4300 meters and having an outlet temperature of + 46 ° C to + 96 ° C. Interestingly, geologists estimate their age at about 10 thousand years - thus, today, guests of the resort bathe in the water that fell in the form of rain on the hills to the south of the Mendip during the Cro-Magnon times.
The city itself appeared along with the development of these places by the Romans, although there is evidence that Celtic tribes also used the healing properties of thermal waters. Already in early middle ages Bath becomes a point of attraction for both secular and spiritual authorities - in 973 an abbey was erected here, in which Edgar, the first king of a united England, was crowned, at the beginning of the 11th century the residence of the Bishop of Wales was built, by the middle of the 15th century it was already becoming a recognized resort center , where almost all the British nobility gathers for the summer, and in XVIII-XIX centuries the town is actively being built up with mansions and villas, turning into the unofficial capital of England and a recognized center of social life. As a result, Bath acquires its unique appearance, which can be easily seen even now. Numerous monuments of history and architecture, a mild climate, a unique resort area, beautiful landscapes and a peculiar culture of these places annually attract about 5 million tourists here. In 1987, Bath was included in the List World heritage UNESCO.
Bath landmarks
The city's trademark is undoubtedly the famous (The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath), lying in the center of a vast peninsula formed by the great bend of the Avon. Founded in the second half of the 7th century as a women's Benedictine monastery, in the 10th century under Edgar the Peaceful it was reorganized with the addition of a Norman church 101 meters long - a colossal building for those times, and then rebuilt more than once (the last reconstruction took place in the 1860s under the leadership of Sir George Gilbert Scott), becoming a major center of the country's spiritual life. The modern building of the main church was built on the site of a Norman cathedral in 1495-1611 and today it is one of the largest (height 52 m, capacity - about 1200 parishioners) and the most famous Gothic buildings in southern England. Its unusual interior with low nave galleries and very high vaults by Robert and William Werthu (the authors of a similar architectural solution used in the chapel of Henry VII of Westminster Abbey) is decorated with 52 windows, occupying about 80% of the wall space, which gives the whole structure an impression of particular lightness. And all the walls outside are richly decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptural compositions. At the end of the 20th century, a thorough cleaning of the external surfaces of the temple was carried out, which returned it to its original yellow color of a real "Bath stone" (yellowish limestone used as building material for churches and public buildings throughout England - there are still many quarries around the city). hidden under a centuries-old layer of soot. Interestingly, the replacement of old gas chandeliers with modern electric lighting took place here only in 1979.
The temple is still operational, every year hundreds of thousands of believers visit it, in addition, all kinds of secular ceremonies, musical events are regularly held here (including performances by the famous local choir and organ concerts - there was a place in the temple for two organs and 10 bells at once) , exhibitions and lectures. Within the abbey, you can also see the Memorial, or Gethsemane chapel(Memorial Chapel, Gethsemane Chapel, XVI-XX centuries), 617 wall and 847 memorial plates dedicated to the most famous political figures of the country and various events military history, Bishop's palace(Bishop "s Palace at Wells, XVI-XVIII centuries), as well as an interesting historical Museum(Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults Museum, currently closed for renovation), dedicated to both the temple itself and its impact on the country's history. As part of a special excursion Tower Tours(about 45 minutes) you can visit the interior of the abbey, including the belfry and upper galleries, as well as see the whole city and the surrounding countryside from the height of the bell tower, which is climbed by two spiral staircases.
Just 50 meters southwest of the abbey is the city's second most important attraction point - (Roman Baths), built around 70 AD. They were discovered in 1775 at a depth of more than 5 meters below the current level of the city surface and are now considered one of the best-preserved objects of this kind in Europe. An extensive complex of ruins surrounded by galleries Large pool(Great Bath) with numerous sculptural compositions and bas-reliefs looks very unusual "in the shadow" of the bulk of the Catholic church, but this gives it an additional charm. You can also visit the drinking room (Pump Room, 1789-1799) located in the north-western corner of the complex with the restaurant of the same name and Ionian-style colonnades, several auxiliary rooms and two chapels.
And just 300 meters northeast of the abbey, the Avon River is crossed by another landmark of the city - (Pulteney Bridge). This three-arch complex was built in 1770-1774 according to the project of Robert Adam under the explicit influence of the style of the Rialto bridges (Ponte di Rialto) in Venice and Ponte Vecchio (Ponte Vecchio) in Florence, with the same shopping galleries on the sides - in the world there are only 4 constructions of this kind. The surrounding Georgian buildings give the entire area a very picturesque view, while the Victoria Art Gallery at the western end of the bridge and the shopping complex Bath guildhall market, as well as a small three-stage dam on the river, with its eastern end to the green labyrinth of Beazer Maze and the park of the same name on the opposite bank, made this the most photographed place in the entire city. And the western bypass of the bridgehead is closed by a beautiful complex city hall(Guildhall, 1780), whose spacious rooms house part of the collection of the Museum of Roman Antiquities. East of the abbey along the coast to the very North Parade Bridge stretches, surrounded by beautiful 18th century mansions, a small (Parade Gardens) with a tiny green rotunda Terrace Walk.
Another well-known attraction in Bath - the "" (The Circus) complex lies in the north of the city, at the convergence of Brock Street, Gay Street and Bennett Street. This unique architectural object in the form of a ring torn into three parts was built in the Georgian style according to the project of John Wood in 1754-1768 and was supposed to symbolize the Roman Colosseum, from where a number of architectural solutions were borrowed with a characteristic decoration of each of the three floors in its own style - Doric , Corinthian and Romanesque. It is believed that, along with lying just south of Queen Square and adjacent Gay Street " The circus"forms a Masonic key, similar to those that adorn many of Wood's works - although it is not entirely clear why the forum was designed in this sign, but it was never built. The round central square during construction was conceived as a pool from which water would come in houses, but now it is just a picturesque square, planted with old plane trees.Today, the complex is used as an office and residential building, which houses prestigious townhouses, and is one of the five most unusual buildings in the UK.
Three blocks west on Brock Street is another unusual architectural element - "" (Royal Crescent). Built between 1767 and 1774 according to the design of the same John Wood as a residential complex on the northern edge of a vast green area Queen Victoria Park(Royal Victoria Park), it has a very unusual design. According to the architect's idea, each owner bought only a separate section out of 30 planned and, according to his own mind, completed the building behind the facade. As a result, behind the front part of the building, made in the same Wood style, there is a semicircle of buildings of sometimes very heterogeneous architecture, which makes the complex a completely unique phenomenon. In addition, the contours of the building are repeated by the terrace enveloping it at some distance, which gives the complex some resemblance either to the ancient Greek theater, or to the Roman Colosseum. By the way, similar terracing and semicircular facades are often found in Bath - similar complexes Lansdown crescent and Somerset place can be found a kilometer to the north. At the moment, the Royal Crescent Hotel and the museum of the house are operating in the "Royal Crescent", while other buildings are given over to offices and multi-apartment living quarters. And the park in front of the complex is traditionally a starting field for launching balloons - usually this happens early in the morning and late in the evening during the warm season.
In terms of the number of museums, a small, in general, city may well compete with much larger settlements - only within its historical core can be found 17 collections. Here you can visit Postal Museum(Bath Postal Museum; 27 Northgate Street) near Pulteney Bridge, Fashion Museum(Fashion Museum) a block east of the "Circus", Glass museum(Bath Aqua Theater of Glass, Walcot Street, 105-107) with glass workshops, cozy Jane Austen Center(Jane Austen Center) near Queen Square - here you can not only learn about the most famous native of Bath, but also easily taste "the most real English tea with the most real English pie."
Some of the best art collections in Bath include Victoria Art Gallery(Victoria Art Gallery) at Pulteney Bridge, Museum of East Asian Art block north of the "Circus" complex (Bennett Street, 12), semi-surrounded by a picturesque excellent Holburn Art Museum(Holburne Museum) on Great Pulteney Street, as well as numerous commercial art galleries and antique shops, many of which are also centuries old.
Also interesting are the richest Herschel Museum of Astronomy(Herschel Museum of Astronomy) in the northwestern part of the historic core of the city, Theater Museum(Original Theater Royal and Masonic Museum - Bath is the first site outside London to have its own theater) in a former chapel on Old Orchard Street, original Working museum(Museum of Bath at Work) on Julian Road, City Museum(Building of Bath Collection) in the former Huttington chapel built in 1765 on Paragon Street, Beckford Museum(Beckford's Tower & Museum) in a 40-meter tower built in 1827 on Lansdown Road, one of the most unusual collections in the city - Bath Bun Museum(Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House & Museum) in one of the oldest (1483) mansions at 4 North Parade Passage, and of course collection of Roman antiquities in the town hall and Therme museum.
In the huge (120 acres) green area of the estate Cleverton, located just east of the University of Bath, is a complex American Museum(American Museum in Britain), which is considered the richest collection of US history outside the New World. And 40 kilometers south of Bath, near the town Sparkford(Sparkford), is one of the most famous automobile museums on the planet and certainly the largest in the UK - Haynes International Motor Museum... It contains about 400 cars, motorcycles and bicycles from all over the world, with the earliest examples dating back to 1885!
As a recognized center of social life in England, in the 18th and 19th centuries, Bath acquired a huge number of cultural centers, and its Old Orchard Street has long been considered the focus of theatrical activity throughout the UK. Five city theaters - Royal(Bath Theater Royal), " Ustinov Studio"(Ustinov Studio)," Rondo"(Rondo Theater)," Mission"(Mission Theater) and Children's Theater" Egg"(The Egg) - not only continue these traditions, but annually attract many world-famous troupes to perform at their venues. Also, since 1936, a children's theater has been operating here. Little theater with a cinema specializing in copyright films.
Bath has an equally long musical tradition - except abbeys with its organ, which is the largest concert venue in the city, the Art Deco complex " Forum"(Forum) with 1,700 seats and lying in a park area in the very west concert hall Michael Tippett Center... You can also listen to performances by jazz bands in Green park brasserie or visit a cabaret in Chapel Arts Center.
Gardens and parks in Bath
Bath is a very green city. From the air, many of its quarters are practically lost among the crowns of trees, and the abundance of beautiful park areas provides many opportunities for a relaxing holiday. The most interesting is the open as a tree nursery in 1830 by the then 11-year-old Princess Victoria (area 23 hectares) - the first in the country to receive her name. Here you can find an aviary, surf park, tennis courts, bowling green, golf lawn and a 12 and 18 hole golf course, Fish Pond, an outdoor concert area and a children's play area. A colorful fair is held here every year at Easter. Victoria Park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag award, a national standard for green spaces in England and Wales, and is registered as a National Historic Site by the English Heritage Foundation.
Bath Botanical Gardens The area of 84 hectares was created in 1887 and now contains one of the largest collections of plants in the western part of the country. In 1987, the complex was expanded to include the abandoned Great Dell quarries, where a coniferous zone was located.
Also picturesque, opened in 1902 on the Beechen Cliff hill above the city, Parade gardens near the abbey in the center of Bath, the oldest park in the city - founded in 1795 Sydney Gardens behind the Holburne Museum at the end of Great Pulteney Street, Henrietta Park(opened in 1897) with a rose garden operating on its territory Sensory garden, Georgian Garden in the center of the "Circus" complex, Hedgemead Park near Camden Crescent (it was destroyed in 1889 on the site of buildings demolished by a landslide), literally inscribed in the city blocks Alice park, landscape Prior Park on Ralph Allen Drive, and regional park near the old Somerset-Dorset United Railroad line, adjacent to the Avon River.
Entertainment, bars and restaurants in Bath
Bath annually hosts an international music festival, classical " Mozartfest"(Mozartfest), literature festival(Bath Literature Festival) with separate performances for children, Film Festival(Bath Film Festival), Bach festival(Bach Festivals), bard festival(Bard of Bath) colorful festival of new art forms(Bath Fringe Festival), beer festival(Bath Beer Festival) and even pepper festival(Bath Chilli Festival).
And it would be surprising if such a renowned cultural center as Bath were left without first-class restaurants and bars. The most famous establishments include Green park brasserie with live music, famous for its modern cuisine Menu Gordon Jones, nepali restaurant Yak yeti yak, italian Sotto Sotto and Carluccio's, French Casanis and Brasserie blanc, Bathwick boatman(the smallest pub and restaurant in the city), bars Canary gin bar, Hall & Woodhouse, Hare & Hounds, Coeur de lion, Sub 13, Circo Bar & Lounge, Belushi's, Porter, Central Bar and Huntsman, clubs Opa, Komedia, Second Bridge, Moles and many others. In addition, the network is very popular gastropubs(gastro pubs) with their home cooking based exclusively on local products - establishments Hare & Hounds, The checkers and The marlborough tavern are among the best in the country. Well, traditional beer Bath ales and Abbey ales can be found in any bar and shop.
Shopping in Bath
Well, for shopping, the city can be called just ideal. Despite the rather high prices, which, however, is typical for the whole UK, you can find a lot of first-class outlets here with quite reasonable prices and an amazing range. However, supermarkets like Debenhams, House of Fraser, Lakeland and Marks & Spencer in West England are no surprise. But cozy family shops, in which sometimes it is enough to simply leave money on the counter or in a special clay mug to pay for the goods, are very popular. Therefore, many visitors to the city are recommended to retail outlets with a brightly expressed individual style and design, for example, a toy and souvenir shop. My small world, store Bloomsbury & Co, haberdashery Liz cox, book Topping and co, shoe DUO, jewelry and watch Mallory jewelers, silver Silver Shop and Jody cory with a large selection of original works, a whole scattering of authentic shops in " artisans quarter"between Walcot Street and London Road, and Kilver Court Designer Village and Mulberry factory shop in Shepton Mallet (25 km south of Bath). Most of the famous shops are concentrated in the city center along Stall Street, Union Street, Milsom Place, George Street and Green Street, The Corridor and the surrounding area, but there are also many in the SouthGate area.
Saturday farmers market operates near Green Park Station in the west of the historic city, and similar fairs can be found in Midsomer Norton (southwestern suburb of Radstock) and Kinsham (Keynsham, 9 km northwest of Bath). In October, the city is overwhelmed by a wave of all kinds of events of the Great Bath Feast culinary festival. And the Christmas markets in the Abbey Churchyard area adjacent to the abbey bring together more than 150 traditional wooden chalets, where you can buy literally everything you need in preparation for the main holiday of the year.
Tourist information
Bath Tourist Office(The Bath Visitor Information Center, www.visitbath.co.uk) is located in the heart of the city, next to the abbey (domestic phone number: 0906 711-20-00). It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm all year round, Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Here you can get information about the city and the events taking place in it, as well as take a detailed map with a mini-guide, book a hotel, buy tickets for visiting all kinds of cultural events, bus tours, river trips, passes to and numerous wellness centers, as well as a subscription Hudson's Heritage Explorer Passes, which provides free admission to over 600 area attractions (available to overseas visitors only) and has a good gift shop.
It is also recommended here to purchase a discount card, which is very useful when exploring the city. Bath visitor card, which provides an opportunity for free (or at a reduced price) visits to museums, some shops, restaurants and cafes, various attractions, sports and entertainment events - in total, about 40 institutions participate in the program. The cost of the card is £ 3, you can also book it online on the website
Let's fast forward to England today. You may not know, but there is a town called Banya.
Of course, in English this city is called Bath, but the meaning does not change. Here's what Wikipedia says about this city:
Bath (English Bath [ˈbɑːθ], Latin Aquae Sulis, Aquae Calidae, Bathonia) is a city in England, the seat of the bishop and main city Somerset County, on the Avon River. Since antiquity, it has been famous for its healing springs as a balneological resort (in fact, the name itself is translated from English as "bathhouse"). Monuments of the Classicism era are included in the World Heritage List. The birthplace of buns. Population - 84 thousand inhabitants.
By the way, Bath is on the UNESCO heritage list - this already says a lot!
So what attracts travelers to this small english city OK?
First of all, these are Roman baths with healing waters of hot springs, as well as an extraordinary architectural ensemble in the Georgian style.
During the invasion of the Roman Empire, the Romans turned the hot spring flowing on the site of modern Bath into a bathing complex with baths and a pool, the length of which reached 35 m.
The source and the city itself were named "Aqua Sulis" in honor of the Celtic goddess, who was considered the patroness of the Baths waters. Near the health resorts, the Romans erected a temple in her honor, believing that this would make the waters of the springs even more curative.
Bath "waters" later attracted the English aristocracy to the city, which gave impetus to its further development.
Today Bath is one of the most popular English spa resorts where you can improve your health with aromatherapy, mud baths and thermal waters, the temperature of which reaches 46.5C.
Woods architectural heritage
At the beginning of the 18th century. successful father and son architects John Wood Sr. and John Wood Jr. set out to transform Bath into a thriving resort city.
According to the project of Wood Sr., a central building appeared in the city - the "Bath Circus" (from the Latin "circus" - oval). The building, decorated with Masonic symbols, vaguely resembles the Coliseum.
From the round area that it forms, the so-called "Royal Crescent" stretched out in an elegant arc. The complex, which consists of thirty buildings, in the Georgian style (symmetrical layout, with arches and pilasters characteristic of the ancient Roman temple architecture), lined up in a semicircle.
These amazing buildings remain the hallmark of Bath today.
Other attractions
Later, the arched Pulteney Bridge over the Avon River joined the architectural ensemble. While working on his project, architect Robert Adam was inspired by the legendary Italian bridges Rialto and Ponte Vecchio. Both then and now, it houses shops of souvenir, jewelry and other products.
Another unique attraction is the medieval church of Bath Abbey (1495 - 1582), built in the Gothic style with turrets and hanging supports. She currently operates as a parish church.
Other must-see attractions include Kingston and Queens Squares, the State Gardens, two historic theaters, and many museums and parks. In summer, you can go for a hot air balloon ride in Victoria Park and appreciate the splendor of Bath from above.
Festival life
Every summer, until the middle of the 19th century, the center of cultural and social life was concentrated in Bath, since the intelligentsia came here "on the waters." William Thackeray, Henry Fielding, Dickens and many other celebrities lived and came to rest here.
Jane Austen's two novels (Reason and Northanger Abbey) are set in this amazing city. Every year, on the last week of September, Bath hosts a festival dedicated to the famous novelist.
Locals and visiting tourists alike dress up in Victorian costumes, and the city is re-emerging with the spirit of former panache.
Another colorful festival - Fringe Festival ("fringe", translated from English) - a bright mixture of street theater and clownery. It takes place in late May - early June.
Bath - the city of inspiration
Bath at all times has attracted creative personalities from different parts of the world. It was here that chance helped astronomer William Herschel discover the planet Uranus.
Writers and playwrights, artists and scientists came to Bath to gain creative strength for new achievements. Inspiration, which many people lack so much, is the main souvenir that you can bring with you from this romantic English town.
(English Bath [ˈbɑːθ], lat. Aquae Sulis, Aquae Calidae, Bathonia) is a city in England, the seat of the bishop and the main city of the County of Somerset, on the Avon River. Since antiquity, it has been famous for its healing springs as a balneological resort (in fact, the name itself is translated from English as "bathhouse"). Monuments of the Classicism era are included in the World Heritage List. The birthplace of buns. Population - 84 thousand inhabitants.
1. The Roman Baths in Bath is a museum and historical complex that includes a sacred spring, a Roman temple, a bathhouse and a museum. The baths themselves are located below ground level; the houses above them were built in the 19th century.
2. On the fence of the Roman baths in Bath - sculptures of commanders who have been here. 
3. The Roman baths in Bath are the only ones in the world that still have water. In the beginning, men and women swam in this pool together, sometimes without clothes. Later, the growing influence of Christianity divided the bathing of people of different genders. 
4. Synthesis of different ancient Roman gods - Neptune and Sulis Minerva. 
5. Remains of (possibly) a merchant from Syria. 
6. In the days of Roman Bath, only wealthy people could afford to eat honey, hence the problem with teeth. 
7. Before the influence of Christianity, the Romans cremated the dead and then began to bury them. Wooden coffins were sometimes placed in stone ones. With the passage of time, the wooden ones rotted, but the stone ones remained intact. 
8. The museum exhibits numerous archaeological finds. 
9. The head of the sculpture of the goddess Minerva. 
10. Roman system for draining water in the thermae. 
11. In ancient times, the figurines in Bath were painted in bright colors, but until now they have survived pale. 
12. This fence was built much later than the baths (terms) themselves. 
13. average temperature hot springs in Bath - 46 degrees Celsius. In the days of the Romans, this pool was covered and the water in it was always transparent, but now it blooms because of the sun. Another interesting fact from those times: people, taking baths, smeared themselves with oils, then scraping them off themselves. So, oil taken from the bodies of famous and respected men was sold in small bottles to women of simple origin. Celebrity culture, however;) 
14. There is also one cold bath - with cool water. Everyone throws coins there for good luck. 
15. Now it is a city for recreation and tourism. 
16. In Bath all buildings are of the same color (with shades). This is due to the color of the stone from which the buildings were built, and now you can build from anything, but the color is just that. 
17. In general, Bath is not very similar to typical English towns, rather a mixture of Roman, Celtic and English cities. 
18. As a young woman, Queen Victoria visited Bath, and then a journalist in a local newspaper criticized her dress. Since then, Victoria disliked Bath and even, passing by him on a train from Bristol, ordered to lower the curtains so as not to see the city where her female pride was hurt. 
19. In this park, at the time of Bath's fame as a city of secular entertainment, men and women constantly walked in the hope of meeting a successful "half", preferably from the higher class. 
20. Father Jane Austen also sent his daughter for a walk here, beautifully dressing up his daughter - as history has shown, it's useless :) 
21. We took a ride on two sightseeing buses - in the city center and along its perimeter and outskirts. Here, even if only one person comes on a planned excursion, it will still take place. And the workers conduct this excursion with joy, without the strain of the "obligation". We were rolled together. In the first bus, the guide herself told us everything, sitting next to me. And in the second, they turned on an audio guide in Russian - through headphones, which the driver and guide left us as a souvenir, saying "Ta Svitania" with a smile :) 
22. There are many cozy restaurants and cafes in the city center. 
23. The oldest house in Bath is the Sally Lann House bakery. The famous buns of the same name are baked there. A very homely establishment, we recommend it. 
24. Courtyard of the Lilliputians. 
25. The main parish church of the Baths Abbey. 
26. Bath Abbey. 
27. Cosmetics store "Roman Baths". 
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29.
30. City trash bin powered by solar panels - why would he need them? 
31. Glamorous graters. 
32. A wonderful evening in a cozy place. 
33. The main center of Jane Austen is located in Bath, although she did not like this city, preferring a calm and measured life to social events and balls. It is also the setting for two of Jane Austen's novels, Northanger Abbey and Reason. 
P.S. Bath hot spring water can be drunk free of charge during the Bath Tour.
P.P.S. The Roman Baths are now only a tourist attraction. But in 2006, a new, modern spa center was opened at Batst Thermal Springs. It's called Thermae Bath Spa. The spa rooftop pool opens great view the whole city. A third of the water comes there from these ancient sources.
Bath is a small charming town 1.5 hours from London and well worth a visit. The identical stone houses in the Georgian style (which we like to call simply - English) at the same time decorate and endow the city with the spirit of antiquity. The atmosphere is so dense and tangible that you can touch it with your hands.
Since ancient times, Bath has been famous for its healing balneological springs (the very name of the city is translated from English as "bathhouse"). The most famous attraction is the Roman baths over 2000 years old. There are still hot mineral springs, which are not found anywhere else in the world, and the water from them is served in a restaurant at the museum.
We will tell you how to live an interesting day in this wonderful city.
We definitely recommend the route on foot - the road from the station to the city center will take no more than ten minutes.
Surprisingly, there is no storage room in the station building. If you are passing through Bath, we recommend that you do not leave your luggage at the Storage Luggage Center, which is advised in the information center. The place is a lovely home-made cafe where you can have an inexpensive breakfast with fresh pastries and ask the owners about the latest news from the city. Leaving the bag for one day will cost you £ 3.
3GBP - 1 bag \ suitcase \ daypack
Now the real name is the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, but in the city and in all guidebooks it is called the Abbey of Bath, which is embarrassing - after all, there is no abbey here now.
The secret is simple: there was once an abbey here, and not anyhow, but one of the oldest in the country. After all, for many years Bath was a royal resort and the summer center of British social life. Many historical names and events are associated with the abbey, but during the Reformation it was closed, the land was sold, and the buildings were abandoned. Later, the monastery church was turned into a parish church, and other buildings have not survived.
The church has many ancient burials and a magnificent organ. The basement is occupied by a small museum that displays items dedicated to the history and relics of the cathedral. Be sure to pay attention to the wonderful stained-glass windows that cover 80% of the walls - the cathedral glows from the inside like a fabulous flashlight.
The famous element of the exterior decoration of the church is the “Ladders of Angels”: two Jacob's stairs, carved from stone, along which angels ascend to heaven, are located on the western wall.
The obverse of the western part of the church bears the so-called "founder's signature" in the form of elaborate stone carvings in the form of olive trees, over which crowns rise. So wittily at one time the stone carver played on the name and surname of the bishop of the founder of the church (translated, the name Oliver means "giving olives", and the surname King - "king").
The unsurpassed beauty of the bridge has become famous throughout Britain. Pulteney Bridge is named after the wife of a local aristocrat who owned the isolated land across from the main city.
Two Italian bridges were taken as a sample at once - the Old Bridge in Florence and the Rialto Bridge in Venice. On both sides of the bridge there was a number of premises used mainly for shops.
What is uniqueness:
While walking across the bridge, stop by the shops and have milk tea at one of the stalls on the north side of the bridge.
Circus Square is a three-storey crescent-shaped building, built into an architectural complex in the image and likeness of the Roman Colosseum in 1768.
Walk around this architectural crescent, take a closer look at the facades - they are decorated with colonnades - and on the friezes you can see carved and decorative elements, including those with Masonic symbols.
The square is located in the very center of Bath, from which city streets radiate out like rays.
In every city, you need to open a place like Sam's Kitchen. This restaurant serves as a permanent meeting place for lovers of local products and rural delicacies. It is homely cozy here, and the dishes are not even worth mentioning - "you will lick your fingers."
On weekdays, Sam’s Kitchen is open for lunch only, and on Friday nights there is live music and Spanish snacks. There are no separate tables - instead of them one long family table, which gives this place incredible warmth and family coziness. Tucking up lunch by both cheeks, one gets the feeling that you have come to visit your uncle. When everything cooked is eaten, the restaurant closes.
In a large family, do not snap your beak!
The pedestrian zone in the square in front of the abbey consists of two squares passing into each other. This is a point of strength to take a break after lunch and gain strength for a trip to the Roman baths, or maybe take a break afterwards and admire the cathedral again in a cafe or on a bench, listening to street musicians and watching locals and tourists.
The most curious landmark that gave the city its name and life.
The first baths were built here by the Celts. They noticed the healing properties of a hot spring gushing from the ground, and considered the place miraculous, so they built a sanctuary here. The Romans who came to Britain also considered the place sacred and dedicated it to the goddess Athena. The Romans built baths here. Construction began in 60 BC. and lasted 300 years.
The original Roman building collapsed over time, but new baths were constantly being built around the spring gushing out of the ground. Bath's main heyday was in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the advent of water treatment. Baths then became the central point of the secular life of the city. All bohemians came to the city in their chariots to take healing baths. Roman Baths are part of the United Kingdom's National Heritage List.
The structures are still filled with hot spring water, but you cannot drink or swim in it here, but it is better not to touch the water with your hands. It flows into the tanks through ancient lead Roman pipes. It turned out to be technically impossible to change pipes and purify the water without destroying the building.
The museum is interesting and makes you wonder how inventive the Romans were. Together with the ticket, you are given an audio guide, with which you can slowly walk 1-2 (or even more) hours. By presenting your ticket at the shop, at the exit from the museum, you will receive a bottle of purified medicinal water.
Let the one who entered here leave fatigue
The peace and tranquility that you will experience by visiting this spa is beyond description. Just imagine, after a long day on foot (or even not a day, but a week), dip your tired legs into the warm healing waters of Bath.
Included in the Bath Spa: a herbal steam room, four thermal jacuzzis and a rooftop pool with breathtaking views of the English countryside and Bath Abbey. The audience is appropriate - entirely high society.
Slippers, towels and bathrobes are given with the ticket, but do not forget to bring a swimsuit, masks and creams from your luggage. Come in handy!
Every music connoisseur cannot but dream of visiting this club one day. Although Moles looks a little shabby and tiny, so many talented people performed on the stage of the club that the energy is off scale there: The Cure, The Residents, The Smiths, Radiohead, Oasis, Blur, Pulp and this is not a complete list.
Moles opened in 1978, housed a vegetarian cafe during the day, and performed by young bands and DJs as the sun went down. British music fans and Britpop fans will love it here.
Now the club also has a recording studio, where young musicians record their first tracks. The ranks of the natives include Elbow and Cocteau Twins. And the famous group King Crimson in 1981 recorded a live album "Live at Moles Club, Bath" at the Moles club.
Admission: free in the afternoon to the concert 3-10 GBP
If you are in England wondering what to see around London, I recommend paying attention to city of Bath... It is 2 hours by car from London in Sommerset. And if you decide to travel by train (this is about an hour and a half), be sure to keep your ticket. This way you can save on some of the entertainment in Bath, including museums and restaurants - paying for one, the second person will enjoy it completely free.I told about it last time, but Bath in England is just an inexhaustible source of impressions for tourists. It is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Two thousand years ago, the Romans, who conquered Britain, found hot underground springs on the site of modern Bath and simply could not help but use such a natural gift. Engaged in the construction Roman terms, they rebuilt a grand complex with baths, swimming pools, changing rooms and other facilities, including a temple on its territory.
The project was named Aquae Sulis after the goddess Sulis, which is the original name of the city of Bath in England. The Romans came here for the whole day, rested, talked, met with friends, healed their physical ailments and relieved psychological fatigue. Then the name of the city changed to Bath, which translated from English means “bath, bath”. Gradually the city grew, a lot of buildings were built in Georgian era... Moreover, for the construction, a local specific stone of a honey-golden color was used, so now wandering around Batu is a sheer pleasure and beauty. And at one time it was also a mega popular resort among the high society of England and the royal family.
Excursion to the Roman Baths costs £ 12.75 for adults and £ 8.5 for children. Children under 6 years old admission is free. The audio guide is included in the ticket price and is even available in Russian. There is also an audio guide especially for children. It is very interesting to listen to the history of the founding of the terms, to look at the representatives of the past times - the actors who will meet you on the territory of the Roman Baths and tell entertaining facts about this amazing place.
At the exit from the Roman Baths, in front of the souvenir shop, you can taste water from a natural source. The taste, to be honest, is specific, and even the water is warm, but for the sake of health what you can not do 🙂
Here, at the Roman Baths, there is Bath Abbey... It was built in the Middle Ages, too, from the Bathonian light stone. You can simply go inside and view the inside of the Abbey for free, although a donation of £ 2.5 is still recommended.
For those wishing to take an hour's tour and climb to the top of the Abbey tower, you will need to pay 6 pounds. If the weather is good, this excursion is worth it. But knowledge of the English language will not hurt either, the purely English accent of our guide-grandfather and I did not quite understand. Basically, you will wander around the tower itself, go up to the room where all the bells are located, see how the tower clock looks from the inside, and after passing all 212 steep steps, you can make beautiful pictures with views of the city of Bath. For example, here you can see the buildings of the Roman Baths and to the left in the distance - the rooftop pool in the thermal spa.
For the full experience of visiting the city of Bath in England, you must dine at a restaurant at the Roman Baths. It is called Pump room... The name is translated from English as “pump” because earlier in the restaurant there were pumps pumping water from thermal springs, people came here to drink healing water. Then it hosted sumptuous balls and receptions, and now it is an indispensable point for visiting guests of Bath. By the way, the food there is even nothing. For us, this place will also be remembered by the fact that our daughter ate restaurant food there for the first time and was satisfied 🙂 Who does not know, she is 2.5 years old.
What other attractions can you see in Bath in England?
Despite its small size, Bath has about 15 museums... Among them:
- Jane Austen's Georgian House Museum, for the ardent admirer of the author of the famous novel Pride and Prejudice, who has lived in Bath for several years. For several years now I have kept this book in English, but I still don’t get my hands on it 🙂
- a fashion museum illustrating changes in styles and silhouettes from the late 16th century to the present
- house at number 1 on Royal Crescent is a typical house of the Georgian era, demonstrating the life and life of that time: furniture, interior decoration, paintings, textiles, dishes, carpets. This street - Royal Cresent in Bath is generally unique. It's not even a street, but one long one, built in the 18th century in the shape of a crescent, looks very beautiful, like an amphitheater. And also made of light stone.
In addition to its historical architectural monuments, Bath also boasts several picturesque parks... You will definitely not pass by Parade gardens - it is located right in the center by the Pulteney Bridge. And in summer everything around this park is in wonderful flowers and flower beds.
And this himself bridge.
There are several theaters, you can also take a tour by bus or walking tour as well as a trip by boat on the river... In a word, Bath in England Is a place worth going to.
Flights to London to the most best price you can try searching in the form below. The service offers a comparison of prices on different sites for buying tickets from different airlines, you just have to choose the flights that are convenient for you and the appropriate cost. Also here you can find a hotel.
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