Exeter
Exeter, located on the River Exe, is one of Britain’s oldest cities and is the capital city of Devon, providing the county with a central base for education, medicine, religion, commerce and culture. Exeter enjoys all the amenities of a modern city and a historic past and is set in beautiful verdant countryside.
Exeter’s history began between the second and third centuries BC, when a Celtic tribe called the Dumnonii established a trading settlement on the river Exe. Around the year 200 the Romans extended the area and surrounded it with red stone walls, parts of which still remain. Since these early beginnings Exeter has prospered as a port and trading centre. Exeter’s main industry was the manufacture of cloth, until its decline in the late 18th century.
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter is Exeter’s great glory; the two Norman towers are all that remain of the original. The Cathedral we see today was begun around 1270 and took almost a century to complete.
With a touch of buzzy, big city atmosphere and a large student population, Exeter is a lively place for the arts. There is an annual festival in July, which includes classical music, jazz, light entertainment, opera, ballet and comedy and also several other festivals throughout the year. The city’s excellent selection of bars, cafes and restaurants make Exeter a vibrant place to be after dark. The recently developed Princesshay centre has complimented Exeter ’s existing selection of high street shops and independent oulets.
