Hereford Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi

Hereford Cathedral dates back to the early 12th century, whilst the site on which the cathedral sits has been a place of worship for an extra 400 years previous. This historic cathedral hosts 3 acts of worship each day, as well as being open to the public for visits and tours.

As well as hosting excellent Norman and Romanesque architecture, the cathedral is home to the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library, two treasures that draw visitors from around the world. The Mappa Mundi is the largest and most elaborate complete pre fifteenth-century world map in existence, and the worlds largest Chained Library contains over 1500 rare books dating between the 8th and 19th centuries.

Both the Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library are on display in a permanent exhibit open to the public thorughout the year, except for the final two weeks of January. There is also an exhibition shop and the Cloister cafe, serving a variety of home-made and traditional foods, for you to enjoy during your visit.