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History buffs will fall in love with this beautiful northern city first founded by the Romans and later which became a Viking capital.<\/p>\n
The Yorkshire city, now brimming with tourist attractions, was first built in 71 AD during the rule of Roman emperor Vespasian and more than 800 years later was captured by the Vikings.<\/p>\n
Led by Halfan and Ivar the Boneless, a Viking army is said to have attacked the city of York on November 1, 866 AD, slaughtering the Anglo-Saxon natives who were in the middle of their own civil war.<\/p>\n
Several months later, in March 867 AD, the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria tried to retake it \u2013 although this just ended in more slaughter.<\/p>\n
After the Viking victory, they set up a puppet king called Ecgberht, before creating the Kingdom of Jorvik within what is now York.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> One of Wales’s prettiest villages sits at the gateway to adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n These days, the city\u2019s rich history comes to life at the nearby Jorvik Viking Centre.<\/p>\n Daily Express journalist Cathy Meyer-Funnell said the best part of the “interactive” museum is a ride that takes you through the tumultuous history of the Vikings.<\/p>\n She called the experience “very informative” but also exciting.\u00a0<\/p>\n On TripAdvisor, one user wrote: “I hadn’t read the details of Yorvik before going with my daughter. The little train ride was unexpected and a good way to experience Viking life in York.”<\/p>\n There’s also the annual Jorvik Viking Festival, Europe’s biggest Viking festival. At this year’s event, dozens reenacted a huge ancient battle during an event called\u00a0The Battle Spectacular in the Land of Darkness.\u00a0<\/p>\n The organiser of the\u00a0JORVIK Viking Festival, Gareth Henry, said: “We planned our Battle Spectacular in the Land of Darkness back in 2019 for February 2020, but stormy weather resulted in the event being cancelled at the last minute.<\/p>\n “Covid stopped us hosting the event in 2021 and last year\u2019s festival was moved to May, so we would have had to move the event to the middle of the night to get the darkness we need.”<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> But the city\u2019s rich history isn\u2019t just restricted to a museum or the Jorvik Viking Festival. The city has period buildings all over the place, including the world-famous Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York \u2013 known as York Minster.<\/p>\n Construction of the Gothic building \u2013\u00a0 used by the Anglo-Saxons for missionary teaching \u2013 finished in 1472.<\/p>\n The luxury city is also home to a number of historical residential properties, including a Georgian townhouse built in 1747 that Express.co.uk found listed online for \u00a31,500,000.<\/p>\n Another six-bedroom property, built in 1830 and boasting an impressive hall and a dramatic turned staircase, is listed for \u00a31,349,000.<\/p>\n For those interested in living in York and enjoying its beauty without splashing out enormous amounts of money on a listed townhouse or manor, houses are available at a much more affordable price.<\/p>\n According to Rightmove, the average house price in York was \u00a3344,082 over the alst year.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/590x\/secondary\/York-on-Christmas-Eve-4945625.jpg?r=1693989832080\")
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