"Durham Cathedral (see Figure 12.1) is a historic cathedral in Durham City. It was built in the late 11^th and early 12^th centuries, though its tallest tower was added later, and is impressively sited on a prominent, elevated site in a meander of the River Wear. As well as being an active Christian church, Durham Cathedral, together with the neighbouring Durham Castle (pictured right in Figure 12.1) is a World Heritage Site. It is a major heritage tourism attraction in North East England. Over 600,000 people from all over the world visit the Cathedral annually. The Cathedral contains the shrine of St Cuthbert and the tomb of St Bede. It is widely considered to be the finest example of Norman architecture in England".