Overview:

The Derry walls are a series of defensive city walls in Derry, Northern Ireland. Constructed between 1613 and 1619, they are the only completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of civic defenses in Europe. The walls, which stretch around 1.5km, protect the historic center of Derry and were built during the siege of Derry in 1688-1690. Inside the walls is the city’s historic center, which is filled with churches, pubs, and shops. The walls are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and are a key tourist attraction. They are also used for a variety of civic events through the year, including the annual carnival. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Ireland
Prominent Features:

The Derry walls, also known as the Walled City, are the most prominent feature of Derry, the second-largest city in Northern Ireland. The walls form a historic landmark that can be seen from much of the city and was built to protect against attack and invasion. The walls were constructed between 1613 and 1619, during the reign of King James I, and consists of seven gates, four original bastions, demi-bastions, and other features. The walls are approximately 1 mile in circumference and stand at up to 28 feet in some parts. The walls are designated as a Scheduled Historic Monument, and are a popular tourist destination in the city. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Ireland.

History:

The Derry Walls of Ireland are some of the best-preserved city walls in Europe and hold an important place in the history of the city and the nation. The walls were built by the Irish between the 16th and early 18th centuries, when the town was under siege from the English in the 1689 Siege of Derry. The walls are built in a star shape and the circumference of them stretches for approximately one mile. The four original city gates (Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate, and Shipquay Gate) are still fully intact and recognisable today. The walls were originally made from earth and timber but were gradually replaced and heightened with stones. They were built to protect the citizens of Derry from potential attackers or from invasion, and to provide a safe haven from the English during times of war. The most impressive feature of the walls can be seen near the Butcher’s Gate, where the Great Bastion was constructed. This provided the defenders with a strategic lookout which allowed them to keep a close eye on the English and to keep them out of the city at bay during the siege. The walls remain a huge part of the city’s history and are one of Derry’s biggest tourist attractions. Numerous events are held on the walls to commemorate the famous siege of 1689 and to celebrate the culture and history of the city. Visit one of the famous monuments of Ireland with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The walls of Derry date back to 1613 when the city was granted a charter for the construction of eight stone walls and gates around the city. 2. The walls form a ring around the city, with its original perimeter of about 1.5 miles. 3. The walls are about 16 feet high, 25 feet thick in parts and have an average circumference of one mile. 4. The walls were constructed in five stages from 1613 to 1628, and the collective process took 15 years to complete. 5. The largest of the four gates that still stand today is Bishop’s Gate, which was built in 1627 and named after the Bishop of Derry, John Mitford (1599-1681). 6. The walls have served many functions over the centuries. They’ve been used as places of defense, to store grain during food shortages, and to stand as a physical and symbolic barrier between the two main cultural communities of Derry. 7. The walls were used unsuccessfully by the famous Apprentice Boys to prevent the entry of the Jacobite forces of King James II into Derry in 1689. 8. The walls were designated as a National Historic Monument in 1921 and are now a recognized world heritage site. 9. The walls have been restored and conserved since the 1980s, and have been used as the venue for a number of popular festivals throughout the year, including the annual International City of Culture celebrations. One of the historical monuments of Ireland, it tells the story of a bygone era