Culture of Aberdeen. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Despite the fact that Aberdeen has the status of an industrial city, it is annually visited by numerous travelers. A simple walk through the city will bring in a real pleasure, because its territory is simply full of many interesting and old sights. Aberdeen University is situated near the center of the city. The university was founded in 1860. Previously a college was built on the territory of the modern university. Already in the late 15th century the city was known as a large educational center. Robert Gordon's University is even an older educational institution. It was opened back in 1775. Both universities are located in beautiful historic buildings. Marischal College is another place that is worth visiting. The construction of this luxury building made of granite was completed in the middle of the 19th century. Today a part of the college’s halls is converted into museums. There are ethnographic and archaeological museums there.

Union Street is simply the best place for walks as it is full of beautiful old houses. The facades of the houses are decorated with skillful trimming made of polished granite that was mined in Aberdeen yet five centuries ago. In addition to beautiful architectural monuments you will find interesting shops and restaurants in Union Street. This place is crowded even late in the evening as local squares and gardens have become a favorite destination for rest not only among locals, but also among tourists. Winter Gardens is a very popular place of rest, the most interesting exhibit of which is a "talking" cactus. The large garden is divided into several thematic zones. In its territory you will find a large greenhouse, a garden decorated in traditional Japanese style, and even a flower wall.

There are also some religious attractions in the city. The most striking of them is St. Nicholas Church. The first building was erected in the middle of the 18th century, and in 1838 an east wing was added to the cathedral. Thus, the modern church consists of two parts – an east and a west one. Despite the fact that they are made in different architectural styles, the cathedral looks very harmoniously. During you walk around the city you will see numerous interesting antique shops, which are also considered a kind of a tourist attraction. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the main attractions of the Granite City (as Aberdeen is often called) is Slains Castle. This is the ruins of an ancient castle from where one can admire spectacular panoramic views. The castle was built in the 16th century and was the residence of the Earls of Erroll. Having become bankrupt at the beginning of the 20th century, the rulers of the Slains Castle sold it to the owner of the transport company Ellerman Lines. From that moment, the history of the castle came to an end, and the history of its ruins began. The castle is notable for the fact that it was once visited by Bram Stoker himself who was working on his popular novel “Dracula” at the time. The novel might not have been able to become so “atmospheric” if Bram Stoker had not visited here. It is also worth noting that there is a rather unsafe slope here, so you need to be very careful when visiting.

The Dunnottar castle is situated not far from the city. It is considered the most inaccessible castle of Scotland because you can only get here either by passing through a cleft, which is not so easy to find, or up a steep slope by rounding the caves, which lead to a secret entrance. The castle is famous for the fact that “Hamlet” was filmed here with Mel Gibson starring in it as the lead role. The battles for the independence of Scotland took place here also. The castle was visited more than once by monarchs, for example, Mary Stuart, Jacob VI. The first mention of the castle dates back to the 7th century, but it is believed to have been wooden back then. It was only at the end of the 16th century that Sir William Keith built a stone castle.

There is a preserved castle here, called Ecclesgreig. The building is constructed in the Gothic style. The construction of the castle dates back to 1864. It is believed that Bram Stoker also visited this castle in search of inspiration for the writing of his famous novel. Perhaps this is because the castle with its owners has a mystical story, which is always told on guide tours. Anyway, beautiful views of the sea are opened for everyone from here, and this means pleasant impressions from visiting the castle are guaranteed.

The park “Pitmedden Garden and the Museum of Farming Life” is also worth visiting. The gardens are simply breath-taking. When looking at them, at once you can’t help but recall the romance of Shakespeare tragedies. It is one of the best places for a walk. And if you visit Torry Battery, you can discover stunning views of the coast, and also look at the representatives of the marine fauna. You should go to Peacock Visual Arts so as to get aesthetic pleasure. Here interesting works of art are displayed for visitors.