Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Belfast as the last city in Europe divided by a concrete wall (Northern Ireland) What language is spoken in Belfast
Information about the city:
Full name: Belfast, England Belfast (Irish: Beal Feirste, OLS: Bilfawst)
Country:
County: Antrim
Population (with surrounding areas): 0.58 million people
Square: 115 sq. km.
On the coast of the Irish Sea, at the mouth of the Lagan River, is located beautiful city Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland. This area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. To this day, on the hills in the area you can see the remains of the Ring of the Giants, the famous Henge monument, which is thousands of years old, and other ruins of ancient cities that have come down to us since the Iron Age.
In 1177, a castle was built on the site of modern Belfast by the Englishman John de Courcy. However, in fact, the city appeared several centuries later, when King James began settling Ulster with English and Scottish settlers in 1609.
In 1611, Sir Arthur Chichister, the owner of lands in Ulster (including Belfast Castle), rebuilt it, and soon arose around the fortress small town. In the 17th century, the city's population increased to 2,000 thousand people. This was due to the flight of the Huguenots from persecution by the French, and the refugees were mainly engaged in the production of flax.
In subsequent years the city developed very quickly, and by 1800 the population had increased tenfold. In the 53th century, a newspaper began to be published in Belfast (in 1737), the first bank (in 1752) and a theater were opened (in 1768). In those same years, flax production and exports increased sharply.
In the 19th century, the city's growth was no less rapid. In 1823, the city received gas lighting at its disposal, and 15 years later a building was built there. railway. Shipbuilding was developing no less actively, the port was working at full capacity.
The year 1888 was marked by an important event: Queen Victoria granted Belfast the status of a royal city. At that time, a variety of institutions were built there: hospitals, churches, and a university. And then, at the end of the century, the production of whiskey and tobacco products began to play an important role in the city’s economy.
1921 is the year Northern Ireland was founded. From the very first days, Belfast became its capital and a kind of center of confrontation between Catholics and Protestants. The peak of this conflict occurred from 1960 to 1990. It was officially exhausted in 1998, resulting in the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
The city was subjected to regular and extremely brutal raids by Nazi Germany during World War II. One of these bombings claimed the lives of thousands of citizens, and tens of thousands of others lost their homes and other property.
Today, this city invariably attracts an increasing number of tourists from all over the world. The city has two airports, railway station and port. Belfast (more than any other Irish city) has a wide variety of museums, galleries, theaters and parks - it is a true cultural centre.
Tourists can visit luxurious restaurants, cozy bistros and shopping malls. Particular attention should be paid to Donegall Square. It is surrounded by magnificent Victorian monuments.
It is also home to the town hall, a true example of a mixture of architectural styles. Most of the works of Irish literature are kept in the Linen Hall Library, which is also located in the square.
The High Saint area, better known as Entriz and located in the north, is the oldest area of the city. Almost all of it was destroyed during the Second World War. Currently, only a few pubs remain from it - a kind of custodians of the glory and spirit of bygone times.
The Opera building was also damaged by bombing, but even now, after restoration, it amazes visitors with its beauty and wealth. The opera hosts on its stage the best singers and performers, famous ballet troupes and renowned jazz and symphony orchestras of the world.
Next to Queen's University is the excellent Ulster Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the city. In the suburbs you can see famous castle Belfast, which can now hardly be attributed to the 12th century - its last restoration dates back to 1870. Stormont is also located there - the meeting place of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is a large industrial city that was formed only in the 19th century. It has a turbulent industrial and political past and, contrary to popular belief, a completely calm and hospitable present. (But, of course, take certain precautions there, as in any big city, won't hurt.) Belfast is convenient in terms of travel and very interesting in a tourist sense.
How to call Belfast: 8-10-44-1232 phone number
How to get to Belfast
Belfast International Airport receives flights from North America, continental Europe and major cities UK. The airport is located 20 km northwest of the center. One more runway- George Best Belfast City Airport 6 km from Belfast - receives planes from Ireland (Cork and Galway) and the UK.
Search for flights to Dublin (the closest airport to Belfast)
By bus
Belfast has two bus stations: the main one is named after Europe (Europa BusCentre) and is located in the city center, near the Europa Hotel and next to the Great Victoria St railway station. Buses depart from here to Londonderry, Dublin, and the west and south of Northern Ireland. The second bus station, Laganside BusCentre, is located on Oxford Street, near the river. All services to County Antrim and east to County Down and the Cookstown area depart from here. There are information offices at each bus station (7:45-18:30 from Monday to Friday, 8:00-18:00 on Saturdays), where you can get the regional timetable.
Eurolines operate daily services between Belfast and London (from GBP 32, 14 hours, ferry included) via Dumfries, Carlisle, Preston, Manchester and Birmingham. Prices on the page are as of November 2018.
By train
Trains to Dublin and all Northern Ireland destinations depart from Belfast's main bus station on East Bridge St, which is east of the centre. Trains to Portadown, Lisburn, Learn Harbor and Derry operate from Great Victoria St station.
The train ticket to the central station also includes free bus travel to the city center.
On Sundays throughout Northern Ireland, the Sunday Day Tracker (GBP 7.50) offers unlimited travel throughout the area.
Maps of Belfast
By ferry
The terminal of the Stena Line company, which transports tourists and cars from Belfast to Stranraer (Scotland), is located 2 north of the center, on Dock St. The remaining companies transporting cars are based in the port of Larne, 30 km north of Belfast.
Norfolkline operates services between Belfast and Liverpool from Victoria Terminal, 5km north of the centre. The Steam Packet Company delivers tourists and their cars to the Isle of Man two to three times a week from April to September from Donegall Quay.
Weather in Belfast
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Transport
Most city buses depart from Donegall Sq. There are also local trains in Belfast that depart every half hour, connecting Great Victoria Street and Central Stations, passing through City Hospital and Botanic Stations. Taxis, as in most cities in U.K., come in two varieties: “black cabs” and minicabs. The latter are noticeably cheaper, but they can only be ordered by phone.
There are routes for cyclists throughout the city: perhaps the most spectacular of them, at number 9, passes through the center of Belfast, following the west bank River Lagan and the northern shore of Belfast Lough.
Shopping and shops
George's Market on May Street next to Central Station is Northern Ireland's largest indoor market and a local landmark. There you can buy clothes, food and all kinds of crafts. Farmers usually put out their goods on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm, and on Fridays you can find almost anything your heart desires. At the same time, the opening hours on this day simply amaze with the endurance of the sellers: from 6 am to 1 am.
Many interesting shops located on College Street and Dublin Road.
Smithfield Market on Winetavern Street, approx. shopping center Castle Court attracts shopping lovers with a lot of cute boutiques, shops and outlets with clothes and shoes for every taste.
Belfast Hotels
In Belfast there are hostels (Lagan Backpackers, Belfast International), and expensive hotels with a name (Radisson SAS, Hilton Belfast), and even the Madison’s boutique hotel.
Cuisine and restaurants
Talking about Belfast pubs is an empty exercise; you need to visit them. The unique atmosphere of the explosive mixture of the Irish with the conservatism of the British makes these drinking establishments perhaps the most authentic in the entire Kingdom. The Golden Mile deserves special mention. This area starts from the Europa Hotel or Great Victoria Street railway station, heads slightly to the left towards Dublin Road, takes in a lot of fun pubs near Bradbury Place and ends at the serene student quarters of Botanic Avenue and University Road. It's worth keeping in mind that this is not the safest area in the city, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Chatty taxi drivers can tell a lot of stories about the Golden Mile. You shouldn't believe everything, but keeping your eyes open won't hurt. This is where young people from all over Europe flock in search of Guinness, whiskey and adventure, so the bad reputation is well justified.
Entertainment and attractions in Belfast
The main attraction of the city (perhaps not in terms of beauty, but certainly in terms of its history) is the City Hall in Donegall Square. The sight of this town hall, opened in 1906, will certainly smell something familiar to residents of the sunny country of South Africa, since it is almost exactly like two peas in a pod to the building where the government meets in Durban. A striking example of colonization and propagation of English culture and traditions great Empire. Every day they walk around the Town Hall free excursions, talking, among other things, about the victims of the Titanic and showing the monument to Queen Victoria.
St Anne's Cathedral on Donegall St is opposite Royal Avenue, the city's main shopping avenue. The architecture of the cathedral is truly amazing, as is the abundance of cozy cafes, miniature galleries and cute shops around.
3 things to do in Belfast
- Drink a pint of Guinness in each of the Green Mile pubs and tick off your own records!
- Trample the “sacred ground” of the great Belfast golfers Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graham McDowell, and if you have the appropriate skills, play a par, because Belfast is a paradise for golf lovers.
- See with your own eyes where the history of the famous Titanic began by visiting the dock where this liner was built and launched. You can also look into the Titanic Belfast Museum and become even more inspired by its sad fate.
Belfast is also famous for the Ulster Museum and City Hall. Interesting and central square Donegall is surrounded by impressive Victorian monuments. There is also the Lineen Hall Library, which houses the main treasures of Irish literature.
The Grand Opera House is also a Belfast landmark. It was bombed several times, but was beautifully restored. The history and culture of the city is presented in the Ulster Museum next to the university. The Belfast suburbs include a zoo, Cave Hill Country Park, Belfast Castle (formally dating from the 12th century, but the current structure was built in 1870) and Stormont, the former regional parliament and currently the seat of the Minister for Northern Ireland.
Another attraction of Belfast, a city which, by the way, is also famous for the fact that the infamous Titanic was built there - sculptural composition"The Searcher", erected to commemorate the centenary of the "discoverer" of magical Narnia, C. Lewis.
The struggle between the United Kingdom and Ireland for Belfast is a thing of the past, but it still left its mark. Walking around the city, tourists will certainly come across one or two buildings with wall-length graffiti on a military theme. And the expression “Whatever you say - say nothing,” which was common here in the 70s, has not been forgotten by the residents of Belfast to this day.
Belfast Mural Tour
The Belfast Mural Tour is a tour of Belfast's unique urban murals and is well worth your time. The city inherited the peculiar frescoes from two militant parties - Republicans and Liberals (Catholics and Protestants), who fought for power in Northern Ireland: one for joining England, the other for independence. We know how it all ended (Northern Ireland does not belong to the Republic of Ireland), but it is still possible to get into the mood and take “your side,” at least mentally. If you start your walk from The Falls Road or Shankill, they will open best views on houses whose walls still have a “propaganda” character.
The city of Belfast is the main city in Northern Ireland, and in fact it is its capital, because the parliament building is located here. The city is located on the Irish Sea, near the mouth of the Lagan River.
It is no coincidence that it is located here main port Northern Ireland, because the location of the city is perfect for these purposes. Belfast is the second most populous city on the island of Ireland after Dublin.
In most people's minds, Belfast is associated with the infamous Titanic, which was launched by local shipbuilder Harland and Wolff in 1911.
Brief history
There was a settlement on the territory of modern Belfast back in the Bronze Age. To this day, in the vicinity of the city, fortifications and other evidence of ancient people living here have been preserved.
In fact, Belfast appeared in 1609, when the settlement of Ulster by Scottish and English settlers began.
However, the castle on the site of Belfast was built by John de Courcy back in 1177. It was this castle, along with the surrounding land, that was given into the possession of Sir Arthur Chichester, who rebuilt the castle in 1611, and later a small town arose around the castle.
The early 17th century in Belfast, when the local population was just 1,000, was characterized economically by the export of wool, grain, leather, butter and corned beef to Scotland, England and France.
Later trade began to be carried out with India and the colonies in North America. By the end of the 17th century, the population increased to 1,500-2,000 people due to people fleeing to Northern Ireland from the French Huguenots.
The rapid population growth in Belfast is attributed to XVIII century: by 1800 it was already 20 thousand people. At this time, the city subsisted on the production and sale of flax..
At the same time, the first newspaper (1737), the first bank (1752), and the first theater (1768) were founded.
In the 19th century, Belfast continued to develop rapidly: hospitals, churches, a university, railway lines, etc. appeared.
In 1888, Queen Victoria approved the official city status of Belfast. An economic boom was observed in the shipbuilding sector, and the production of tobacco and whiskey also appeared.
When Northern Ireland was founded in 1921, Belfast became its capital. When conflicts broke out between Catholics and Protestants (60-90s of the XX century), it was the capital of Northern Ireland that became the center of controversy. The armed clashes officially ended only in 1998, when the Belfast Agreement was signed.
During the Second World War, Belfast was bombed by German aircraft, which killed thousands of people and left many residents homeless.
The 20th century for Belfast was a time of development of the oil refining and electrical industries, as well as the development of instrument making.
Attractions
Now Belfast is a small developing city with a population of just under 600 thousand people. Since the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, it is here that its parliament and assembly are located.
Tourists are attracted by the numerous attractions of Belfast, which glorify the city far beyond the borders of Ireland.
The main attraction in Belfast is the central Donegall Square, which is surrounded by magnificent works of architecture - numerous monuments of the Victorian era.
The city hall is also located here, representing a mixture of architectural styles.
Linen Hall Library, located in the square, is home to many of Ireland's literary treasures.
The oldest part of the city is considered to be the High Saint area, which was destroyed during bombing, but some historical sites fully convey the spirit of the past.
One of the historical and cultural attractions is the Grand Opera, built back in 1895. The building was extensively damaged during the Second World War, but now it is again presented in all its splendor.
Worth visiting by tourists is the Ulster Museum, which is one of the most important collections in Northern Ireland. Historical artifacts are on display here. archaeological finds, unique works of art and documents.
The museum is located next to Queen's University– another important architectural landmark. The university has existed since 1849 and is now not only a place of study for students, but also an interesting object for tourists: there is an exhibition center and a souvenir shop.
Belfast became notorious because of the Titanic, which is also associated with several local attractions. One of them is the Titanic Belfast Museum, where excursions are held on the history of the ship itself and the city. The museum is located on the site of the former Harland and Wolff shipyard.
Titanic Belfast Museum
A popular object among townspeople and tourists is the figure “ Big fish" The sculpture is about 10 meters long. This work contemporary art reflects historical and even mythical information about the city.
According to legend, it was in the capital of Northern Ireland that salmon was caught, which was not actually found in the local river. The sculpture contains a time capsule with information about the city.
Figure "Big fish"
The historical symbol of the city is Belfast Castle. The last reconstruction of it, created in the 12th century, took place in XIX century. Legends and interesting stories are associated with the beautiful castle.
One of them is the story about the guardian of the fortress - a white cat. That is why there are several sculptures of white cats around the castle.
Notable is the local parliament building - Stormont, next to which there is an interesting castle of the same name.
Another architectural landmark is Clifton House, which is now a nursing home.
Another famous building in Belfast is the Albert Memorial Tower, named after Queen Victoria's husband. The clock, which is located at the top of the tower, is a copy of the clock on the famous Big Ben.
An interesting feature of the Albert Tower is its slight tilt, reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is simply some mistake by the tower designers who did not take into account the characteristics of the swampy area.
Among the religious landmarks, the Cathedral of St. Anne and the Parish Church of St. Malachy are notable.
Among the natural attractions, tourists highlight Cave Hill in the northern part of Belfast, which offers excellent views of the city.
The local zoo is one of the best in the UK and Ireland. Also interesting is the Botanical Garden, located near Queen's University.
No idea of Belfast would be complete without visiting the many golf clubs, local pubs, souvenir shops and parks.
The city of Belfast is located on the territory of a state (country) United Kingdom, which in turn is located on the territory of the continent Europe.
Which administrative and political part does the city of Belfast belong to?
Belfast is part of the administrative and political part of Northern Ireland.The administrative and political part is an enlarged territory consisting of several constituent entities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
What county (district) is the city of Belfast located in?
The city of Belfast is part of County Antrim.A characteristic of a county (district) or a subject of a country is the possession of the integrity and interconnection of its constituent elements, including cities and other settlements, included in the county (district).
County (district) Antrim is an administrative unit of the state of Great Britain.
Population of the city of Belfast.
The population of the city of Belfast is 339,600 people.What time zone is Belfast located in?
The city of Belfast is located in the administrative time zone: UTC+0, in summer UTC+1. In this way, you can determine the time difference in the city of Belfast, relative to the time zone in your city.Belfast area code
Belfast telephone code: +44-28. In order to call the city of Belfast with mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +44-28 and then the subscriber’s number directly.Official website of the City of Belfast.
Website of the City of Belfast, official website of the City of Belfast or as it is also called “Official Website of the City of Belfast Administration”: http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/.Flag of the city of Belfast.
The Belfast City Flag is the official symbol of the city and is represented on the page as an image.Coat of arms of the city of Belfast.
The description of the city of Belfast presents the coat of arms of the city of Belfast, which is the distinctive sign of the city.The main feature of the center is Donegall Square, surrounded by impressive Victorian monuments. Donegall Square is home to the town hall, a true example of mixed architectural styles. It is also home to the Linen Hall Library, which houses major treasures of Irish literature.
The High Saint area of north Belfast, known as The Entrance, is the oldest part of it. It was virtually destroyed by bombing during the Second World War and now only a handful of pubs remain, reflecting the spirit of the past. The Grand Opera House is also a Belfast landmark. It was bombed several times, but was restored and now sparkles with wealth. The history and culture of the city is presented in the Ulster Museum next to the university. The Belfast suburbs include a zoo, Cave Hill Country Park, Belfast Castle, which theoretically dates back to the 12th century but the current structure was built in 1870, and Stormont, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Best time to visit
Now a popular holiday destination, it looks best in summer.
What to see
- The extensive Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park to the south of the city, with a stunning rose garden where up to 20 thousand roses bloom in season.
- Unexpected frescoes on the facades of houses.
- Samson and Goliath are twin shipbuilding cargo cranes on Queens Island.
- A true reminder of Old Ireland, the Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street.
- Belfast Castle in Cavehill Country Park with superb views over Belfast Lough and the city.
- Lagan Weir is a major engineering structure near the old Customs House, completed in 1994.
The oldest daily newspaper in the world is published in Belfast - The News Letter, the first issue of which was published in 1737.
