Carlisle from the roof of the castle. The cathedral is in the center.
At first glance, Carlisle looks like any other mid-sized English town seen from the M6 highway. If one were to keep going along the M6, one would think that all that's in Carlisle is row houses and factories. However, the center of town contains several very interesting sights that make Carlisle a worthy place to stop.
Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle - This well restored castle is one of the best I visited. It is the only one that I've seen that's made out of red sandstone. The contrast of the red stone to the green lawns surrounding the castle makes the whole setting very dramatic. The dramatic nature of the building doesn't end with the exterior. Inside there's an interesting half-moon battery, a fascinating keep with plenty of rooms and passageways, and wonderful views of the town and countryside from the battlements. Anyone who goes to the castle must make a trip to the dungeons and look for the holes licked into the stones by thirsty prisoners who were kept there. Price was £2 for students.
The east window of Carlisle Cathedral.
Carlisle Cathedral - We visited the cathedral, which is only a few blocks from the castle, just as it was closing. But, we happened upon a friendly guide who was willing to give us a tour of the church after hours. I'm glad he did, because Carlisle Cathedral is a fascinating place. It, too, is built with red sandstone. The nave of the church was severely shortened by the city's inhabitants in order to use the stone to shore up the Castle and the city's walls in the late 17th century. As a result, the choir is the longest part of the church. If you visit, pay particular attention to the east window and the roof over the choir. There's no entrance fee; but, a donation of £1.50 is requested.
Dungeon walls - The kidney shape hole in the center and others in
the picture were created when thirsty prisoners licked the walls for moisture.
These prisoners were later killed by their captors.
Places to Eat - We ate at Mama's Restaurant right on the corner of English Street and Bank Street, about a block north of the cathedral in the heart of Carlisle. It's a fine Italian restaurant that serves very good pizzas from 4-7 p.m. for £3.20. The humor of the staff takes a little getting use to (they found it funny to pretend to spill cappuccino on me); but, their service is very good. I recommend stopping there for a bite.
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