Belfast Travel Basics
by Milan Matchev
Belfast
Hotels - Return to Ireland Home Page
Located in Northern Ireland,
Belfast is the capital and the largest urban area in that area. The city
is situated on the Ireland's beautiful eastern coast and flanked to the
northwest by a series of green rolling hills, including Cavehill, which
is thought to be the inspiration behind "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan
Swift. Belfast is located at the mouth of the Lagan River, which makes
it an ideal port for shipbuilding and industry. The Titanic was built in
Belfast in 1912, and the company that made it, Harland and Wolff, had the
largest shipyard in the world.
But
the city itself has an ancient history that began as early as the Bronze
Age. The Giant's Ring, which is a 5000 year old henge, is located close
to Belfast and the remains of Iron Age hill forts can be seen and visited
in the hills that surround the city. Belfast was a small settlement during
the Middle Ages, and John de Courcy built a castle on what is currently
Castle Street in the 12th century. While it was not as fancy or large as
Carrickfergus Castle to the north, it was still a beautiful place.
In the 17th century, Belfast
became a major settlement after being established by Sir Arthur Chichester.
Although it was initially settled by the Protestant English and Scottish
migrants during the Plantation of Ulster, the city was formally founded
by the Society of United Irishmen in 1791. Belfast soon boomed as a commercial
and industrial area in the 18th and 19th centuries and became Ireland's
premier industrial city. Many great industries thrived in Belfast, including
rope making, tobacco, heavy engineering, linen, and shipbuilding. The city
overtook Dublin as the largest city in Ireland, especially when the shipyards
became some of the largest in the world. But, it was heavily bombed in
World War II, and in one single raid in 1941, German bombers killed over
one thousand people and left tens of thousands of people homeless.
But, many of the beautiful
historical buildings are still standing and there are so many great castles,
royal homes, and more to visit and see. You can also find awesome vacation
rentals that will allow you to stay in some of the most luxurious and famous
places in Belfast. It is easy to find the perfect vacation rental here
in the city, as there are always openings throughout the year. But, make
sure that you know what time of year you want to stay and book your vacation
rental as early as you can so you are sure to get the best one, at the
perfect time of year.
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Belfast
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