Horse Racing Cheltenham

The birth of a bourgeois city

The town of Cheltenham is named for its location. Indeed, the word comes from the Anglo-Saxon Celtenhomme which means “at the foot of the hill.” It is in the eighteenth century that Captain Henry Skilicorne discovered hot springs in this city whose foundation already dated from 1226. This is of course the nobility and senior military officers who took advantage first, establishing in fact a very posh attendance of the city. This trend was confirmed when King George III himself came to treat his porphyria (a blood disease) in the healing waters of Cheltenham. It is for this reason that the city now has a shield and that the cure was renamed Royal Well. Since then the city has grown around this prestigious reputation, attracting the biggest names in England. By adding a table equestrian tradition, we understand why Cheltenham acquired the national reputation of honorable, prosperous city even bourgeois. It is this elegant and quiet nature that visitors are looking for when choosing the city for their stay. One can enjoy there an amazing city center in its architecture, visit one of the many museums or art galleries and indulge in several types of sports in town or nearby. The surrounding landscape is quiet and beautiful, adding a serene nature and nature holidays rather upscale.

Architecture of the city: the symbol of English Regency style

The city is famous for its Regency style, which is the most successful example. The Regency style dates from the early nineteenth century and owes its name to the fact that King George IV was then Prince Regent, due to the mental illness of his father George III. It represents a fine movement both in the decoration in the architectural lines. Found in the city of charming houses with pastel-colored walls, often with beautiful facades decorated with ironwork. The city has no less than 2000 listed buildings, all adorned with details that need to be observed carefully. The synagogue was described by one of the most renowned art historians of the kingdom, Nikolaus Pevsner, as the “most beautiful architectural religious building and not Anglican in Britain.” It is among these historic buildings that the visitor plunge into the cozy atmosphere and delicate of the city of Cheltenham. Only medieval building in the city, Saint Mary’s Church, Anglican parish church of Cheltenham, was built in the eleventh century. On a visit to its originality compared with the Regency dominant and also for its stained glass rose window dating from the fourteenth century and the royal coat of arms honoring the visit of George III.

A vivid cultural life

Cheltenham undertook the challenge to become a benchmark for cultural activities. It hosts throughout the year four famous festivals like the HSBC festival, an international festival of classical music ranked among the best in the country. Also in the field of music, the city also hosts a Jazz Festival the first weekend in May, which attracts the big names of this musical movement. The Folk Festival offers in winter, during the month of February, celebrations around folk music. But the city does not stop at music initiatives and organizes the literature festival Times since 1949 or the sciences. All these events have gradually established themselves as leaders in their respective field. For cultural visits, the town has several high-quality museums. This is the case of the museum Gustav Holst, which was installed in the house of the composer of The Planets, or the Pittville pump Room and Museum, the most beautiful building Regency of the city, in which are regularly organized parties and concerts . The Town Hall also hosts several concerts and the Everyman Theatre presents the plays and shows in the city