York Minster is a must see for all first time visitors to York. The largest medieval cathedral north of the Alps is an artistic and architectural achievement and a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass - with a wealth of things to see for people of all ages.

This is religious architecture on the very grandest scales: over 500 feet in length, 100 feet wide and with a central tower 200 feet high. The cathedral took over 250 years to complete and is the most visited cathedral in Britain. The Minster contains some of the country's oldest and finest stained glass, has the city's best views from the Tower and is rich in historical artefacts, dating back to the Roman age.
Try a Chapter House ‘safari' and explore the strange beasts and people hidden amongst the exquisite foliage carvings.

Explore the Roman history beneath your feet and step into the layers of archaeology unearthed during the excavations beneath the Central Tower in the newly refurbished Undercroft.

Climb the 275 spiral stairs past the rooftops and gargoyles of the Minster to the top of the Central Tower for unsurpassed views of York and the surrounding countryside.

Qualified guides offer tours of the Minster from Mondays to Saturdays. The Minster shop offers a wide range of books, educational materials and souvenirs.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT YORK MINSTER

York Minster is a Cathedral, dedicated to St Peter. It is called a ‘Minster' because it was a centre from which Christian teaching was carried to the surrounding countryside by travelling preachers and teachers.

York Minster is the largest medieval cathedral in Northern Europe and took 252 years to build.

The Minster is still an active place of worship, and holds around 1,750 services a year.

The first York Minster was built in the seventh century. In Roman times, the military fortress lay on the site of the present Minster.

It was probably in this fortress that Constantine was proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire in 306, before converting to Christianity in 312. It is a wonderful accident of history that the spot where Constantine, the first Christian Emperor, came to power later became one of the greatest cathedrals in Europe!

The Archbishop of York is appointed by the crown to be head of the Church of England in the Northern Province. His title is Primate of England.

Since 627 there have been 96 Bishops and Archbishops of York. Cardinal Wolsey was Archbishop of York for 16 years but never set foot in the Minster!

The Minster has 128 stained glass windows, containing in the region of 2 million separate pieces of glass.

When the Minster was completed in 1472, an average craftsman was paid 6d, today 6p would keep the Minster open for around half a second.

The central tower weighs 16,000 tonnes. On a very clear day you can see Lincoln Cathedral 60 miles away.

The Minster has suffered nine serious fires since its construction by King Edwin. At first glance, this may seem like a lot of fires. However, this levels out as a fire every 140 years - not a bad record for a building nearly 1400 years old!

The last fire, in 1984, destroyed the roof in the South Transept, and was possibly the result of a lightning bolt. One of the new roof bosses, designed by children, shows Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon!

The restoration of the West Front was completed in 1999. The work took 10 years to complete at a cost of £4.3 million.

The Minster employs 15 masons and carvers who constantly maintain the fabric of the building.

An exciting feature for visitors is the complete audio tour of the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypts, which brings to life the past of York Minster.

Visitors can discover the atmosphere of the Roman street as they walk through the remains of the basilica, listen to the Norman builders at work on the Norman cathedral, and marvel at the medieval Minster, with its rich collection of treasures from the tombs of the archbishops.

Visitors can also climb the 275 spiral stairs of the Central Tower, past the gargoyles and rooftops of the Minster. This challenging ascent is rewarded by an unrivalled view of York and the surrounding countryside!

Open daily at 7.00am for early services. For visitors from 9.00am to 6.00pm (Mon - Sat) 12.30pm to 6.00pm (Sun) (Later closing times during summer). Call direct for details on entry prices. York residents can obtain a York Minster Pass allowing free entry year round by writing to the Visitors Department.

For further details contact:
The Visitors Department, 5 College Street, York YO1 7JF, Tel: 01904 557216, Fax: 01904 557218 www.yorkminster.org email: visitors@yorkminster.org 

Press Contact: Kendal Chalk, Tel: 01904 557248, email: kendalc@yorkminster.org

For any further information and your free guide to York, please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org.

Press contact:  Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org, website: www.visityork.org.