Belfast Castle, Castle in Cave Hill Country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Belfast Castle is a country house and castle featuring Scottish baronial-style architecture, located on Cave Hill within a landscape park. The structure is built from pink sandstone and includes multiple towers that define its defensive design language.
An earlier castle on this site burned down in 1708, leading to a long interval before reconstruction. The current structure was built between 1867 and 1870 for the Third Marquess of Donegall, marking a major transformation of the property.
The estate features a collection of cat-themed artworks distributed throughout its gardens and rooms, connected to a longstanding local legend about white cats. This distinctive collection shapes the character of the place and reflects the area's folklore traditions.
The location sits within a landscape park with walking paths and viewpoints that are easily accessed on foot. The grounds are open to visitors, and the setting works well for exploring across different seasons.
Architect Charles Lanyon chose pink sandstone for the building, giving it a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from other fortifications of the same era. This material choice remains one of the most noticeable features when approaching the structure.
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