Leicester — The Shadow Beneath the Tarmac

Your investigation begins at the King Richard III Visitor Centre, a 15th-century medieval building housing the remains of the King of England. Opened in July 2014, this center occupies the archaeological excavation site of Greyfriars Friary, founded in 1256, where Richard III's remains were found in 2012. Here you examine the DNA evidence and artifacts that confirmed the king's identity, reburied in March 2015 in the nearby cathedral. This Grade I Listed Building is an essential starting point for understanding the medieval heritage of the East Midlands and the controversies surrounding his reign from 1483 to 1485.

A short walk away, Leicester Cathedral, a parish church since 1927, is the site of Richard III's reburial on March 26, 2015. The Lady Chapel, dating from the 13th century and rebuilt in the 14th after damage in 1239, provides a solemn setting. Richard III's tomb, designed by the cathedral's artisans, is adorned with 12 sculptures of English saints. Exploring this Richard III archaeological site, you perceive the importance of this place for the worship and memory of a sovereign whose burial was a historic event for Leicester and the East Midlands.

The route then leads you to the Greyfriars site, the former Franciscan friary founded in 1256. It was here that Richard III was buried in 1485, after the Battle of Bosworth, before his body was found under a municipal car park during the 2012 excavations. The University of Leicester manages this archaeological site which, although the remains were transferred to the cathedral in 2015, retains an atmosphere of discovery. The proximity of Friar Lane, a medieval street lined with 14th to 19th-century buildings, immerses you in historic Leicester, preserved since the 13th century.

Continuing your circuit, you reach Leicester Castle Great Hall, built around 1150 by Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester. Measuring 27m long by 16m wide, this hall is the only surviving large Norman hall in Europe. Used as an assize court until 1954, it was restored in 2018. This monument embodies the feudal power of the Earls of Leicester and their influence on the city, offering an architectural contrast to Leicester Guildhall, a 14th-century (around 1390) perpendicular Gothic building that served as a municipal prison until 1877 and a site of notable trials, such as that of Lady Jane Grey in 1554.

Finally, your exploration of the medieval heritage of the East Midlands takes you to Bow Bridge, a 14th-century (around 1350) stone bridge over the Soar, Grade II listed in 1952. 50m long with 5 arches, it connects the castle to the city center, bearing witness to Leicester's historical flows. The journey concludes at Jubilee Square, a public square renovated in 2019, named for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002. This thematic circuit in Leicester offers an interactive visit and a deep understanding of the tumultuous history of a city that has preserved its monuments and royal past, a true GPS treasure hunt through time.