Durham Cathedral is a Norman Romanesque masterpiece constructed between 1093 and 1133 to house the shrine of St. Cuthbert, a revered Anglo-Saxon saint, and Venerable Bede, located within the Galilee Chapel. It is renowned as the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England and is notable for being the oldest large-scale stone-vaulted building, which influenced the development of Gothic architecture.

The cathedral has been in continuous use for worship and pilgrimage for over 900 years and remains a central religious site as the seat of the Bishop of Durham. It is part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizing both Norman power and religious significance. The cathedral is also famous for its spectacular setting on a rocky peninsula above the River Wear and its historical role as a monastic center and fortress in medieval England