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European Heritage Open Days

This year’s European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) will take place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September. There are over 260 events & properties for you to visit during the weekend and they are all free of charge!

Managed and promoted by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) The principal aim of the event is to encourage buildings which are not normally accessible to the public to open their doors and share their secrets.

Take a sneak peak inside some of this years featured properties open for the Euopean Heritage Open Days.

Virtual Visit NI has once again teamed up with NIEA to produce a feature on the European Heritage Open Days. Two properties from Belfast & two from each County we’re chosen and you now can take a ‘virtual jump’ into some of the wonderful properties featured in this years event…some well known, others not.

Let your curiosity get the better of you! Take a Virtual Visit.

You can view all the properties and events by county by going to www.wonderfulni.info/events/events-ehod.htm

Featured VRs

The Great Hall - Queens University, Belfast

The Great Hall - Queens University Belfast.

Magnificent panelled walls hold a selection of portraits from the University’s art collection creating a warm, powerful and theatrical space at the heart of the University.

Rotunda - The City Hall - Belfast

The City Hall Belfast.

The main landing on the first floor is filled with classical influences. There are four main arches supporting the dome and a circular viewing gallery looking down to the main entrance hall.

The Playhouse - Derry, County Londonderry

The PlayhouseDerry, County Londonderry.

The refurbishment of the Derry Playhouse on Artillery Street has won a major architectural award. This is an opportunity to view the fine scheme of restoration that has been completed.

The Harbour Museum - Derry, County Londonderry

The Harbour Museum Derry, County Londonderry

Derry’s Harbour Museum gives an insight into the impact that the River Foyle has had on the city. A wide range of paraphernalia pertaining to Derry as a Port is on display including objects from the ‘Minnehaha’, one of the key emigration ships to operate out of Derry in the famine years.

An Creagán Visitor Centre - Omagh, County Tyrone

An Creagán Visitor Centre Omagh, County Tyrone.

Situated at the foothills of the Sperrins. An Creagán offers a range of long and short walks including a 5.5km Forest & River Trail, Biodiversity Trail and Storybook Trail for children.

Island Turf Crafts Visitor Centre - Coalisland, County Tyrone

Island Turf Crafts Visitor Centre Coalisland, County Tyrone.

An Aladdin’s cave of gifts and crafts. Turf products made by craftsmen using 5000 year old Irish Turf and an exhibition of artifacts excavated from Irish boglands..

Ballywalter Park - Ballywalter, Co. Down

Ballywalter Park Ballywalter, County Down..

An Italianate palazzo mansion constructed by Charles Lanyon for Andrew Mulholland, great, great, great grandfather of the present owner. An opportunity to see how Victorian grandeur is matched with a contemporary twist.

F. E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio - Banbridge, Co. Down

F. E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio Banbridge, County Down.

Dedicated to the memory of Banbridge-born sculptor Frederick Edward McWilliam, one of Ireland’s most influential and successful artists. The gallery and studio houses the collection in a superb exhibition facility of gallery, garden and reconstructed studio.

Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral - Armagh, County Armagh

Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral Armagh, County Armagh.

Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral stands on the hill from which the City of Armagh derives its name – Ard Macha; the height of Macha.

Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Armagh, County Armagh

Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral Armagh, County Armagh.

This is a most curious example of a very important building which changes both architect, and architectural style, half way up the walls. The Cathedral stands on a hill, as does its Anglican counterpart, and has twin spires.

Enniskillen Castle Museums - Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Enniskillen Castle Museums Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

Enniskillen Castle, situated beside the River Erne in County Fermanagh, was built almost 600 years ago by Gaelic Maguire chieftains. The original castle, a small square tower-house, guarded one of the few passes into Ulster and defended Fermanagh from attack.

Devenish Island Monastic Site - Trory Point, County Fermanagh

Devenish Island Monastic Site Trory Point, County Fermanagh.

Probably best known for it's perfect 12th-century round tower, one of the finest in Ireland, and ruined Augustinian abbey complete with intricately carved 15th-century high cross in graveyard.

The Braid Museum & Arts Centre - Ballymena, County Antrim

The Braid Museum & Arts Centre Ballymena, County Antrim.

This is a ‘behind the scenes’ tour. The neo-Classical town hall of 1928 has been extended to house the museum that offers a fascinating experience for all the family with sound narratives for adults and interactive displays for children.

Old Gracehill School - Gracehill, County Antrim

Old Gracehill School Gracehill, County Antrim.

One of the original buildings in the Moravian settlement of Gracehill dating from 1765. It was featured in the BBC2 ‘Restoration Village’ programme.

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