This busy market town, with its attractive and diverse architecture, was developed on the spot where the Roman road crossed the River Tees. The 12th-century castle was built by Bernard Baliol, hence the town name. A town trail is available from the Tourist Information Centre, and there are also walking leaflets available for nearby Cotherstone, Romaldkirk and the rest of Teesdale. On the edge of Barnard Castle, the Bowes Museum has one of the most superb decorative and fine art collections in Britain. It is housed in a stunning building, built in 1862 in the style of a French château. The museum also contains archaeology and local history galleries, as well as collections of costumes, textiles and ceramics.