Accommodation in Cambridge - Your guide to the best Hotels in Cambridge
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Places to visit in Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is rich in history - its famous Colleges and University buildings attract visitors from all over the world. But the University's museums and collections also hold many treasures which give an exciting insight into some of the scholarly activities, both past and present, of the University's academics and students.
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.
Many of the University's customs and unusual terminology can be traced to roots in the early years of the University's long history, and this booklet looks to the past to find the origins of much that is distinctive in the University of today.
In 2009 The University of Cambridge celebrates its 800th anniversary from 1209 when groups of scholars congregate at the ancient Roman trading post of Cambridge for the purpose of study.
Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)
St Mary the Great with St Michael is a Church of England church in Cambridge, UK. It is locally also known as Great St Mary's or GSM.
In addition to being a parish church in the Diocese of Ely, it is the University Church for the University of Cambridge. As such it has a minor role in the University's legislation: for example, University Officers must live within 20 miles of Great St Mary's. The church also hosts University Sermons, and houses the University Organ and the University Clock. The latter chimes the Cambridge Chimes which were later used by the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament ("Big Ben").
History
The first church on the site of the current one was built in 1205, but this was mostly destroyed by fire in 1290 and then rebuilt. In the Middle Ages it became an official gathering place for meetings and debates for Cambridge University, but this ceased in 1730 when the University's Senate House was built across the street.
Various leading philosophers of the English Reformation preached there, notably Erasmus. Martin Bucer, who influenced Cranmer's writing of the Book of Common Prayer, was buried there. Under Queen Mary, his corpse was burnt in the marketplace, but under Elizabeth I, the dust from the place of burning was replaced in the church. The Tractarian movement in the 19th century prompted the removal of the east and west galleries, and the north and south still stand.
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum was founded in 1816 by the bequest of the VIIth Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion to the University of Cambridge. It contains magnificent collections of works of art and antiquities of national and international importance spanning centuries and civilisations.
Highlights include antiquities from Egypt, the Ancient Near East, Greece, Rome and Cyprus, oriental art, Korean ceramics, English and European pottery and glass, sculpture, furniture, armour, illuminated manuscripts, coins and medals, Japanese prints, masterpieces of painting and drawing by Domenico Veneziano, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck, outstanding works by great British artists including Gainsborough, Reynolds, Stubbs and Constable and a fine collection of 20th century art.
Visitor Information
Hotels Near The University |
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Hotels Near St Mary's Church |
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Hotels Near Fitzwilliam |
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Wimpole Hall, Garden and Park |
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