What is Lindisfarne?
Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island, is a tidal island off the coast of Northumberland. It is famous for its early medieval monastery, the Lindisfarne Gospels and a castle perched on a rocky hill.
The monastery was founded in 635 by St Aidan, an Irish monk from Iona. It became an important center of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England.
St Cuthbert, a bishop of Lindisfarne, became one of England's most popular saints. The Lindisfarne Gospels, a beautifully illustrated manuscript, were created on the island around 700.
Viking raid and visiting
In 793, the monastery was attacked by Vikings, an event often seen as the start of the Viking Age in Britain.
The island is reached by a causeway that is covered by the sea at high tide. Visitors must check safe crossing times, and some drivers have needed rescue after ignoring them.
Lindisfarne Castle, built in the 1500s, was converted into a home by architect Edwin Lutyens in the early 1900s. The ruins of Lindisfarne Priory are cared for by English Heritage.
Lindisfarne mead is made on the island.