European Cathedral Journey #4｜Salisbury: Reaching for the Sky

⛪ Salisbury Cathedral 📍 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK ⏰ Built: 1220–1258 (just 40 years!) 💡 Architectural Style: English Gothic Record-Breaking Heights 123m spire 👑 – Britain’s tallest church spire and the tallest surviving medieval stone spire in existence. Constructed as a unified whole on virgin ground → exceptional stylistic coherence. Engineering Marvels ⚒️ Despite soft riverside soil (foundations only 1.2m deep), the 6,000-ton spire stands unwavering after 800 years. 🏰 King Henry III and Queen Eleanor attended its 1258 consecration. Design Distinctions Lower vaults + elongated transepts (vs. French Gothic) to accommodate more clergy. Unique double transept layout. Emphasis on symmetry: traceried windows 🪟 and sculpted pilasters. Treasures Within 🕰️ The 1386 Astronomic Clock: Britain’s oldest working mechanical clock. Visitor Essentials 🚆 From London: Train: Waterloo → Salisbury (1.5hrs) Bus: Routes 14/20/29/37/44 to "The Cloisters" stop. ⛰️ Add Stonehenge: Catch "The Stonehenge Tour Bus" (30mins) from Salisbury Station. 📚 Reference: "Great Cathedrals of Europe" by Li Ziyi #EuropeTravel #UKCathedrals #SalisburyCathedral #GothicArchitecture #StonehengeTrip #HiddenHistory #MedievalMarvel