A Visit To Belfast Castle: Discover Its Legend
It is one of the most iconic buildings in the capital of Northern Ireland, so a visit to Belfast Castle is mandatory for all those who travel to the city. In this article we will discover everything you need to know about this wonderful construction.
The legend of Belfast castle
We are going to start talking about a curiosity, rather about a legend related to the castle. The story says that its inhabitants would only be lucky as long as there was a white cat there. Eye-catching, right?
Well, they must have taken it very seriously and you will surely realize it as soon as you arrive. In many corners of the castle you will see white cats. Cats of all sizes in the form of mosaics, paintings or sculptures that adorn the gardens. It will be the most unique memory that you will take with you from your visit to Belfast Castle.
Learn about the history of Belfast Castle
The original Belfast Castle was built in the late 12th century. It was a Norman building that stood in what is now the center of the city.
Several centuries later, in 1611, it was replaced by a stone and wooden fortress that served as a home for Sir Arthur Chichester and which, sadly, caught fire in 1708.
Years passed before a descendant of the Chichester family, the third Marquis of Donegall, wanted to build another palace: today’s Belfast Castle. This dates from the year 1862, although it was later completed by the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury.
A different castle
The truth is that the castle is nothing like its predecessor. At the moment, the location is different, since it is located on the slopes of Cave Hill. A location that could not be better, as Cave Hill, rising almost 370 meters above sea level, offers unbeatable views of the entire city of Belfast.
The project was commissioned by the architect and engineer Charles Lanyon, who was also responsible for other important buildings in the city, such as the Customs House or the Linehall Library. To do this, he relied on a very sober-looking Scottish-style mansion and a series of turrets.
In 1934, the son of the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury decided to cede construction to the city of Belfast. After the gift, the City Council began a major refurbishment that lasted ten years and cost more than two million pounds. Finally, the building was reopened to the public in 1988.
Practical information for visiting Belfast Castle
The building is open to the public every day from nine in the morning to six in the afternoon, except for those in which an important event is held. And it is that since Belfast Castle was ceded to the City Council it has been the scene of numerous weddings, events of all kinds or conferences.
The visit to Belfast Castle is free. And it gives the feeling that we are sneaking into a large mansion, because, in addition, you can open the doors and walk wherever you want. You only have to respect those private rooms in which access is restricted to tourists.
Although the floor that interests us the most is the second, which is where the visitor center is located and in which the history of the park, Cave Hill, the castle and its inhabitants is told; as well as a bedroom that houses a collection of wedding photographs taken on site between the 1940s and the present day.
In addition to the castle, on the premises you can visit an antique shop, a playground for the little ones to enjoy and the Cellar restaurant, whose innovative dishes are made with fresh products.
Getting to the venue is very simple. Just take a taxi to drop us off at Antrim Road, which is only ten minutes from the center; or with getting on a bus. Then we will only have to walk about fifteen minutes from the entrance of the castle to the building.
