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Bangor sits on the north coast of Wales at the top of the county of Gwynedd. It is close to Menai Bridge and the island of Anglesey. It is also within easy reach of Snowdonia National Park. Bangor is the largest settlement in Gwynedd, mainly due to its status as a university city, albeit a small one. Term-time sees the population of the area almost double. The area is largely Welsh speaking, but most of the student population comes from outside Wales.
Historically Bangor is a religious settlement, founded as a monastic site in the 6th century by St. Deiniol, who became its first bishop. The cathedral located in the town centre today is not the original building, which has been updated several times over the centuries. Among other things it was destroyed in the 1200s, rebuilt in the 15th century and renovated in the 1800s. It does however have the distinction of being the oldest cathedral see in Britain.
Bangor did not move much past being a small town with a religious heritage until the industrial revolution. It began to grow at this time through the expansion of the slate industry and increased transport links via the railways. At around the same time, in the 1880s, the University of Wales Bangor was founded. The university has flourished, and is a prominent part of the centre without overshadowing it. The main buildings sit close to the cathedral and the adjacent Bible Garden.
Despite its academic standing, Bangor is not known for its tourism. There are few hotels around the centre, but there are a number of venues in which to stay in and around Gwynedd and Anglesey, and many in Snowdonia. Likewise it is not famous for its attractions, although those willing to look a little further will find some charming historical sites. This includes the cathedral and garden, and the traditional Victorian pier, which is a grade II listed structure and juts out into the Irish Sea. Penrhyn Castle is also worth a visit. It is a striking Neo-Norman building founded in the 1800s for the industrial Pennant family, and illustrates just how profitable the Victorian age was for business owners.
Historically Bangor is a religious settlement, founded as a monastic site in the 6th century by St. Deiniol, who became its first bishop. The cathedral located in the town centre today is not the original building, which has been updated several times over the centuries. Among other things it was destroyed in the 1200s, rebuilt in the 15th century and renovated in the 1800s. It does however have the distinction of being the oldest cathedral see in Britain.
Bangor did not move much past being a small town with a religious heritage until the industrial revolution. It began to grow at this time through the expansion of the slate industry and increased transport links via the railways. At around the same time, in the 1880s, the University of Wales Bangor was founded. The university has flourished, and is a prominent part of the centre without overshadowing it. The main buildings sit close to the cathedral and the adjacent Bible Garden.
Despite its academic standing, Bangor is not known for its tourism. There are few hotels around the centre, but there are a number of venues in which to stay in and around Gwynedd and Anglesey, and many in Snowdonia. Likewise it is not famous for its attractions, although those willing to look a little further will find some charming historical sites. This includes the cathedral and garden, and the traditional Victorian pier, which is a grade II listed structure and juts out into the Irish Sea. Penrhyn Castle is also worth a visit. It is a striking Neo-Norman building founded in the 1800s for the industrial Pennant family, and illustrates just how profitable the Victorian age was for business owners.