Travel Guide Winchester

Located half an hour from the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park, Winchester is an adorable little town with a fine selection of museums and a pleasant pedestrian city centre. It is also a major historical destination that still bears the marks of a turbulent past. Once inhabited by the Shawnee Indians, it began to attract settlers in the 17th century. In 1606, the French Jesuit Samuel de Champlain was the first to explore the region, but it was in 1732 that the city of Winchester was structured with the arrival of the religious society of the Friends (a religious movement founded in England in the 17th century by dissidents of the Anglican Church) of Pennsylvania, better known as the Quakers. An Anglican society was created and the arrival of European immigrants over the century added to the ranks. Then, in the mid-18th century, Winchester and its region became George Washington's military and political training ground. After buying a lot of land in the city, he built Fort Loudoun during the Franco-Indian war, and at twenty-six years of age, was elected to his first public office as the county's representative in the Chamber of Burgesses.During the Civil War, Winchester became a strategic site first under the control of the Confederates. Due to its geographical location, it is a serious threat to the supply lines of the Union armies trying to reach Richmond, the capital of the Confederation. Each side wanted to take control of it and Winchester became the scene of six battles during the civil war. It is reported to have changed flags about 70 times during the four years of conflict, including 13 times on the same day. If you decide to make it your base camp to explore the national park, however, plan time to visit the city's various attractions, enjoy the lively downtown and stroll through the streets lined with historic houses.