24 septembre 2008
Cavehill
Today was the most beautiful day since i arrived in Belfast. The perfect opportunity to enjoy a walk to the hills above Belfast, and especially Cavehill. As you can guess, this hill takes its name from a cave.
Seen from the city, Cavehill shows the shape of the silhouette of a giant's face who would be lying on the ground, head turned to sky. The story says this rocky face inspired to Jonathan Swift (who was pastor near Belfast for a time) the idea of his novel "Gulliver's Travel".
Also, the main sightseeing point from these hills is called "Napoleon's Nose". To understand why, check this video :
On the slopes of Cavehill, we can find too the Castle of Belfast, a landmark of the historical map of Belfast. It stands where a first Norman castle was built, then reconstructed, burned down, and eventually the Donegall family built a new one, much more like a mansion, but it's the Shaftesbury family who finished it and later, in 1934, offered it to the city of Belfast. The castle is now devoted to weddings, receptions, teas, and leisures.
More pictures to see in the photo album CAVEHILL.