The heart of Oxford​

Transcript: The heart of Oxford​

Known as the “city of dreaming spireTurmspitze​spires”, Oxford offers a wealth of cultural and architectural delights. Begin at Carfax Tower, in the historic heart of the city. The name “Carfax” comes from the ancient crossroads(Straßen)Kreuzung​crossroads, or carrefour, where the four roads leading from the four city gates met. This 13th-century stone tower is all that remains of the church that once stood here. No building in central Oxford may be higher than Carfax’s 22.6 metres, and the climb to the top offers a wonderful panorama of the city skyline.​

Further along High Street (known as “the High”), the Covered Market includes independent shops, cafes, bars and stallVerkaufsstand​stalls. It’s a good place to grab a coffee before a visit to the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. This English Gothic church has an elaboratekunstvoll​elaborate porchhier: Portal​porch and tower, offering fine views of Radcliffe Square. One of Oxford’s most iconic buildings stands here, just off Catte Street: the Radcliffe Camera (named after the Latin camera for “room”). Completed in 1749, this domed buildingKuppelbau​domed Baroque building is today the main reading room for the world-famous Bodleian Library. Guided tours can be booked online.​

A short walk down Catte Street and a left turn into Broad Street brings you to the elegant Sheldonian Theatre, with a magnificentprächtig, prunkvoll​magnificent painted ceiling. It was designed by Christopher Wren as a ceremonial hall for the university. Opposite is a more recent Oxford institution: Blackwell’s bookshop, which began trading from a single room in 1879. Nearby are Trinity and Balliol colleges, which you can enter for a fee. Founded between 1249 and 1264, Balliol is one of the oldest of the University of Oxford’s 39 colleges.​

Returning down Catte Street, a left turn leads into New College Lane, and a view of the “Bridge of Sighs”, which links the two halves of Hertford College. Follow the lane past New College and turn right into Queen’s Lane, back to “the High”. Here, the Grand Cafe serves delicious food and beverageGetränk​beverages in opulent surroundings. Reputed to be the site of the first coffee house in England, it provides an ideal stop for lunch or afternoon tea.​

headingauf dem Weg nach​Heading east along the High, a set of steps leads down to the oldest botanic garden in the UK. It’s home to more than 5,000 plant species. Exit via Rose Lane and turn right into Deadman’s Walk, along the edge of Merton College. Continue on to Christ Church college, whose hall, cloisterKreuzgang​cloisters and Bodley staircaseTreppenhaus, Treppenaufgang​staircase feature in Harry Potter films. Visit the college’s cathedral, which is England’s smallest.​

A strollSpaziergang​stroll into Christ Church Meadows offers timeless views of fields and to grazegrasen, weiden​grazing cattleVieh, Rinder​cattle. To end your day, why not enjoy a drink at the Head of the River hotel on the banks of the River Thames (known locally as the “Isis”), and watch rowing crewRudermannschaft​rowing crews and leisure boatFreizeitboot​leisure boats glide past?​