John de Courcy is usually referred to as the founder of the modern city. In 1177, he built a castle on one of the hills. The year of 1609 is the official foundation of Belfast – it was not until the 17th century when Scottish and English settlers appeared on the grateful lands of the region. The ancient castle was restored and expanded significantly at the beginning of the 17th century, and first villages appeared around it.
Fertile land was the main reason for the popularity of Belfast among settlers. This region is still famous for it. For many years, the city provided neighbor countries with premium oil, grain, leather, and wool. At the beginning of the 18th century, the population of Belfast was nearly 20,000 people. It was the time when first banks, post offices, culture and entertainment venues appeared in the city. Modern Belfast is an incredibly attractive place from a historical point of view. It’s an ideal place for walking and observing numerous historic landmarks. Despite the fact that Belfast suffered much damage during the World War II years, many historic monuments and sights of different epochs have survived till our days.
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