Durham Castle sits along side Durham's magnificent Cathedral in the heart of the city and they dominate the sky line of this historic city. The castle is later in date than the cathedral and was built in 1072 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The castle played a vital role as part of the defences for the border with Scotland.

The castle was later to be transformed into a palace for the Prince Bishops of Durham and they made many additions to the castle including its magnificent halls and chapel. In the 1830's the Prince Bishops left the castle to make way for the newly established University of Durham and the University still occupies the Castle today. Parts of the castle are open to the public by guided tour and in 1986 the Castle and Cathedral were designated a World Heritage Site.