Most buildings in the City of Bath were built of limestone, which were originally yellowish (some say golden); but lots of those looked dark and brownish during my 2005 visit because of aging and pollution.
Bath was undergoing massive restoration to return the city to its original yellowish appearance. From the pic of the famous Royal Crescent above, you can see some parts were brighter/cleaner than the rest.
Bath is famous for its Roman Baths which was built by the Romans during their occupation of Britain (43-410).
The baths became popular again in the 17th century after Thomas Guidott published his work about the curative properties of the hot spring waters.
During the Georgian era (1714-1830) Bath was a resort city for the royals and riches. Lots of its current remaining architecture was built during the period.
The City of Bath was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Besides the Roman Baths, other attractions in the city include the Bath Abbey, the Pulteney Bridge and the Kennet-Avon Canal etc.
Bath Abbey was first built in the 12th century, with a few major restorations over the period. It’s often credited as the greatest English Gothic architecture…
I’ve never heard of the Pulteney Bridge until seeing it with my own eyes… oh my, what a beauty! According to our tour guide, the 18th century bridge is one of only four bridges in Europe with shop lots on both sides on the bridge.
If he’s right then I’m fortunate to have visited three of those during this month long trip. The other two I visited are located in Venice and Florence.
The Kennet and Avon Canal was built in 1794-1810 to connect River Avon and River Kennet; the canal runs from Bristol (passes by Bath) to Reading with series of locks and weirs to allow the boats to navigate through the valley…
UK & Europe travelogue – Previous: Lacock Village | Next: The Roman Baths