Bristol — Cabot's Forgotten Codex

Your journey begins in front of The Matthew of Bristol, a faithful replica of John Cabot's caravel, commissioned in 1496 for his exploration of North America. Moored in Bristol Floating Harbour since 1998, this 21-meter replica, rebuilt in 1997 by Colin Mudie, is a major site of English transatlantic exploration. It was here, on the quays of southwest England, that the original ship was launched in 1497 with 20 sailors aboard, marking the beginning of an era of British colonial expansion from the 15th to the 18th century. The codex, it is said, was hidden just before departure to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

Continue to Welsh Back, a historic quay in Bristol's port dating from the 17th century. Its Welsh name reflects the importance of Welsh merchants in this unloading area, which became a central hub for British colonial trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. The period cobblestones and renovated port structures preserve the memory of trade routes to America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Your investigation leads you through these bustling merchant areas, where every corner could hide a key to unlocking Cabot's secret. Bristol, with its rich British maritime heritage, is a city where history is read at every step.

The ascent of Cabot Tower, located in Brandon Hill Park, offers a break and a new perspective on the city. This 32-meter cylindrical tower, built between 1897 and 1898 by William Venn Gough to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's voyage, is a Grade I Listed historic monument. Its 99 steps lead to a panoramic view of Bristol, a symbol of its maritime heritage. The codex might contain hidden instructions, legible only from a high vantage point, revealing coordinates or symbols related to 15th-century colonial exploration.

Your quest then leads you to St Nicholas Market, an indoor market built in 1835 with a wrought iron and glass structure in Victorian style. This market, approximately 70 meters long, was built on the site of a 12th-century medieval market and is Bristol's oldest continuously operating market. It testifies to Bristol's intensive commercial activity during colonial expansion, a true crossroads where information circulated. It is in this flurry of exchanges that clues about the codex might have been exchanged or lost, fragments of truth mixed with rumors from the historic transatlantic port.

Finally, your journey concludes near Pero's Bridge, a modern 73-meter pedestrian bridge designed by Wilkinson Eyre in 2000. Named in honor of Pero Jones, an African slave who arrived in Bristol in the 18th century, it connects the historic port district to contemporary urban development areas. This bridge embodies the recognition of Bristol's complex colonial history. By crossing this bridge, you assemble the last fragments of the codex. The city of Bristol, recognized as a UNESCO City of Film in 2017, has preserved its history while looking to the future, offering an ideal setting for this GPS treasure hunt that immerses you in its heritage and monuments from the 15th to 18th centuries.