Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and its largest city. Settlement goes back to the Bronze Age but it didn’t become a major urban centre before the 18th century.
Because of the fact that Belfast Lough has always been a save haven for shipping and the fact that a fresh water river flowed into the Lough settlement started that early. Four hundred years ago Belfast has already been a bustling seaport. As trade increased and ship building became an industry the town grew and in 1888 was granted city status by Queen Victoria.
City Hall and Big Wheel © flickr/Iker Merodio
Thanks to the waterfront Belfast grew from a small town to a big city of over 450,000 people by the beginning of the 20th century. Many impressive buildings were erected to demonstrate the civic pride of the Victorian city fathers. But Belfast not only had the largest shipyard in the world but also the largest linen mill. And City Hall, which was built to celebrate the city’s award of city status, was finished in 1906 on the site of the old White Linen Hall. Also located in Donegall Square is the Linenhall Library designed by Sir Charles Lanyon. He also designed the Lanyon Building at Queen’s University and many other Victorian buildings in Belfast.
Like most old cities, Belfast was divided up in quarters and still today remnants of these old quarters exist.
The Cathedral Quarter is not only the oldest but also the closest to the waterfront and dominated by the beautiful Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Anne’s. In the cathedral you can see mosaics designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and executed by Gertrude and Margaret Marin, the largest Celtic Cross in Ireland and mosaics and stained glass on Celtic themes. In the Cathedral Quarter also many of Belfast’s oldest buildings can be found. It is the city’s main tourist and cultural area.
Queen’s Quarter close to it, is a lively area of its own charm and character with the university being its heart. Here academia, entertainment, culture and commerce fuse and create a very unique neighbourhood.
The Titanic Quarter is only relatively new in name and located in the old shipbuilding yards of Harland and Wolff. Here not only the ill-fated RMS Titanic, but so many great liners were built to sail across the oceans of the world. SS Nomadic, Titanic’s little sister, which served as a tender ship at Cherbourg, has returned to Belfast and is being restored. Plans are made to commemorate the centenary of Titanic’s launch and departure from Belfast in 2012. Exhibits then will tell visitors the story of Northern Ireland’s maritime history and the Titanic.
Opera House © flickr/Infodad
The Gaeltacht Quarter is where the Celtic heritage of Belfast is celebrated with the Irish language, music, myth and folklore. The name of Belfast is derived from the Gaelic Béal Feirste which roughly translated means ‘the mouth of the sandbank’. And here, in the quarter along the Falls Road, the historical legacy is most potent and vibrant.
The only bar in the UK owned by the National Trust is the Crown Liquor Saloon in Great Victoria Street. It was designed by Joseph Anderson in 1876 and was made famous as the setting for the film ‘Odd Man Out’ starring James Mason. The restaurant panels in the bar were originally made for the Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic.
The two giant cranes Samson and Goliath stand out against Belfast’s skyline at the Harland and Wolff shipyard which now is the location of the world’s largest dry dock.
Another must-see of Belfast is the Grand Opera House which was completed in 1895. During the Troubles it was bombed several times, was listed in the 1970s and has now been restored to its former glory. Eisenhower, Montgomery and Alanbrooke attended a gala performance here to mark the end of World War II.
Due to the special micro-climate of Belfast that is created by the surrounding mountains it is easy to grow plants and many parks and gardens can be found in the city. One of the most popular is Botanic Gardens in the Queen’s Quarter. Its Palm House was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and built by Richard Turner in the 1830s. It is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear and cast iron glasshouse. Other attractions in the park are the Tropical Ravine, rose gardens and the concerts and music festivals being held there.
Belfast Cathedral © flickr/Ted Drake
After all the sights and parks the city also offers superb shopping facilities. Most of the great shopping finds are within walking distance of each other. Whether it is high street or budget shopping, the city offers a great variety for every taste and pocket.
Belfast also is a very family friendly city and there are a vast number of things to do and places to go for the entire family. You can get entertained, amused and even educated as children love to investigate and explore things.
Belfast also offers a wide range of accommodation styles with something for every taste from luxurious five star hotels to comfortable hostel accommodation.
From England and Scotland there are direct sea crossings to Belfast and you can also get there easily by plane from Europe.
