Duke University and Chapel, Durham

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North Carolina
Duke University and Chapel, Durham
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You can pretend you're in Europe as you walk around the campus of Duke University. Its famous Gothic architecture is gorgeous! Each building, archway, decorative detail, and adorable window make your heart leap! And grassy quads under bountiful shade make for an idyllic place. 

Check out the Duke Chapel, a major tourist destination. It's lovely to walk around its exterior, admiring arches, spires, and wooden doors with decorative ironwork. The interior of the chapel didn't appeal to me as much- the stained glass is too detailed and the dimensions are a little too grand and lacking intimacy- but it's still impressive nonetheless.
It's nice to hangout by the Student Bookstore, where there are several patios under leafy trees. With the Gothic buildings in the distance, and a frame of delicate leaves, the views from these patios are memorable. There are plenty of four-seater rockers with blue plush seating on these patios! Browse the bookstore which has Duke apparel and a small section of books. 
Cross the pedestrian bridge and in the middle of it you will see a gorgeous modern glass building- This is where you can find a food court with Italian, Japanese, Indian, and more types of cuisine! It's wonderful! It is an international food court called Brodhead Center. Inside, on the left, is a little room that looks like it's straight out of Harry Potter. After buying your food, you can eat in this little room! Tandoor Indian is a good choice here (use google maps walking feature to get directions to this building once you're on campus). 
Walk inside the Duke library and admire the vaulted ceiling and arched windows.
At exactly google's stated time for sunset, you can see fireflies all around campus in the grassy patches and forested areas in summer!
Make sure you save plenty of time to explore the world-class Sarah P. Duke Gardens, adjacent to Duke's west campus.
Duke University is named after Washington Duke, tobacco tycoon, who gave large donations to the university. His donations came with the stipulation that the college "open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men." He was way ahead of his time!
Washington's sons James and Benjamin also gave generously to the university. Sarah P. Duke Gardens is named after Benjamin's wife.  James was the father of only one child, Doris Duke, who created Doris Duke Shangri-la.
After, check out the hip coffee shops and restaurants in Durham town. Cocoa Cinnamon (the one on Hillsborough Rd is the closest) is six minutes away! Guglhupf Bakery and Cafe on Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd is eight minutes away.

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Summer evening stroll at Duke campus.

Golden light of evening at Duke Campus.

Leafy spots to sit.

Stairs leading from Sarah P. Duke Gardens to campus.

Buildings on campus.

Window and bricks.

Sweet honeycomb-tinted doorway.

Arched windows and doorways.

Huge quad.

Castle-like building.

Shady walkway- what a beautiful campus!

Inside the library.

Ceiling of the library lobby.

Bikes outside a building.

Duke Chapel in all its glory.

Cute twisty architecture.

Doorway to Duke Chapel.

Side of Duke Chapel.

Arches at the side of Duke Chapel.

Looking up at Duke Chapel.

Arches at the side of Duke Chapel.

Lamp at Duke Chapel.

Curlicues on the doors at Duke Chapel.

Little path leading out into the forest, near McClendon Tower.

I love these rocking benches for six.

Round Table housing.

Archway.

Walking under an archway.

Shady places to stroll.

Castle building.

Bikes and side of building like a castle.

Thick arches.

Tower in the distance.

Modern area near the dining commons.

Modern dining commons, in between historic buildings.

Walk up to these tables that are so European!

University Store.

Modern building near the University Store.

Little spot to sit with an amazing view!

Another area with lots of tables and chairs, like France.

View of Duke Chapel.

Side of Duke Chapel.

I love this doorway at Duke Chapel!

Organ in Duke Chapel.

Decorations everywhere.

The altar.

Inside Duke Chapel.

Stained glass windows.

Little window with pretty design.

Blue stained glass inside Duke Chapel.

Modern glass cafeteria between historic buildings, at night. This is where you will find the international food court!

Driving up to Duke Chapel at night.

Duke Chapel's archways at night.

Blue light in the arches of Duke Chapel.

Looking up at the amazing Duke Chapel at night.

Castle building in the evening.

Staircase and castle building in the distance.

Flowers, arches, and lit-up windows.

The campus at night.

The chapel and statue at night.

Leaving Duke Chapel at night.

Inside Duke Chapel at night.

Entering Duke Chapel at night.

Castle building at night.

Duke Chapel and night sky.

Arches lit at night.

The beautiful bricks of Duke Chapel, and night sky.

Side windows lit at night.

The chapel looks dazzling at night.

Chandelier and gothic windows inside the International Food Court, on campus.

Inside the International Food Court, on campus. A wonderful modern building.

Front of the International Food Court.

Harry Potter style dining on the side wings of the International Food Court.

Purple stained glass in the chapel.

Tower near the food court.

Chapel at night.

Arches at night.

The chapel at night and a full moon.

Students hanging out in the rockers in the distance.

The chapel.

A student walking on campus in November.

Fall leaves catching the light.

Tall trees.

Hanging out on the stairs of the chapel in the sun, on a cold November day.

The cute architecture.

The chapel, catching golden light.

Fall leaves at the roundabout.

Fall leaves are a delight in November!

The chapel catching the pink glow of sunset.

Nave of the chapel before an organ recital.

The chapel looks mysterious at night.

The chapel, bright in the sun.

April sunlight on the chapel.

Sunny day by the bookstore.

Rocking benches.

Lovely spot to sit.

The International Food Court and its glass building.

The pedestrian bridge by the Intl Food Court.

A wedding at the chapel.

Rocking chair with chapel in the distance.

Rocking benches by the bookstore.

Sunny sky outside the huge windows of the Intl Food Court.

Students enjoy the view outside the huge windows in the Intl Food Court.

The glass facade of the Intl Food Court.

Students sit in the sun outside the Intl Food Court.

Gothic building by the Intl Food Court.

Walkway past the Intl Food Court. A gorgeous area.

Doors of the chapel, with amazing curlicues!

Directions

Duke University's parking lot and structure is located at 123 Science Drive, Durham. It costs $2 per hour and you pay with credit card in a machine. You must know your license plate number to pay at the machine. Also, even though the ticket says not to leave it on your dashboard, you must, otherwise you might get fined! This is what happened to us.

map

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Last Updated: Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:43:42 GMT

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