Things to see and do Derry

Just outside the city walls of Derry is the Guildhall, a red brick building in the Gothic Revival style. Originally built in 1890, the building was rebuilt after a fire in 1908. It now houses the City Council Chamber and the offices of the Mayor of Derry. However, it is still worthwhile to enter the building, especially to have a look at the beautiful old stained glass windows, telling episodes of Derry's eventful history, and an exhibition on the Plantation in Ulster.

Bogside ("the side of the bog") is the Catholic quarter of the city of Derry, located to the west of the walled enclosure. It grew up in the ^19th century, and was home to the city's Catholic workmen. As the years went by, it became poorer and more densely populated, turning into a veritable ghetto. In August 1969, the Bogside battle lasted three days, pitting local residents against the police. The violence of the riots was impressive. After this dramatic episode, barricades were erected here and in the neighboring Catholic districts. IRA militants patrolled the streets, and it soon became impossible for the police to enter. Its inhabitants dubbed it " Free Derry" and declared themselves independent of the civil authorities.

In 1972, it was in this area that the tragic events of Bloody Sunday took place. On January 30, 1972, thirteen Catholics lost their lives when British troops opened fire on unarmed demonstrators, turning the conflict into an international drama. Today, Bogside has been completely renovated, but remains a place touched by its tragic history. The old buildings have disappeared and the population has shrunk from over 30,000 to 8,000. The only witnesses to a bygone era are the murals recalling the country's difficult political history, including the famous " You are now entering Free Derry ", as well as paintings commemorating Bloody Sunday.

Derry is the only completely fortified city in Ireland. Built between 1613 and 1618, this wall, originally intended to protect the English settlers, is one of the best preserved in the British Isles. The walls, still intact today, which rise to 8 meters high and are 5 meters thick, encircle the city over no less than 1.5 km. They resisted several sieges, the most famous of which lasted 105 days between 1688 and 1689. In the 18th century, the fortifications were transformed into a fashionable promenade, which is still very popular with locals and visitors. Your visit to Derry can start with a walk on the ramparts, which allows you to better appreciate the history of the city, with a beautiful panorama, but also to see, on the west, the Irish flags of the Catholic districts (Bogside) and, on the east, the British flags of the Protestant districts (Waterside), on the other side of the Foyle river.

For the anecdote, this first city in Ireland to have been built according to a plan would have taken for model that of Vitry-le-François, conceived in France in 1545. Since then, it has kept its original layout, with four main streets radiating from the central square, The Diamond, to the four old gates (Shipquay, Ferryquay, Bishop and Butcher Gate). Freely accessible, this is a great idea for a walk to start your visit of this famous Northern Irish city.

Very dynamic office with free French-language documentation in Derry. Exchange desk service, tours of tours, guided tours, overnight stays… Information about Northern Ireland.

The comprehensive museum presents the history of the city of Derry, from prehistory to the present day, as well as a section dedicated to The Derry Girls series. Upstairs is a second exhibition on the Invincible Armada, an ancient galleon wreck found not far from the Northern Irish city. The episode dates back to 1588, when Philip II of Spain decided to invade England to restore Catholicism. But as the Spanish fleet approached the coast, the ships capsized. Pieces recovered from the galleon are on display.

This natural park is a worthwhile excursion in the countryside east of Derry. It has wonderful old mills and money-laundering meadows, remnants of the flax industry, once flourishing in the valley. It was the first hydroelectric plant in Ulster (it opened its doors in 1886). Roe Valley is a popular place and walkers can learn about biodiversity and local history during the various courses. The centre visitor is a ecomuseum that explains the fauna and flora of the region.

55 ha of forest whose main attraction is the highest waterfall in Ulster. Marked and constructed paths, wooden bridges that circulate in a tree and moss vegetation.

Opened in 2007 by the Bloody Sunday Trust organization, and expanded in 2017, this museum is located in Free Derry, a self-proclaimed nationalist enclave between 1969 and 1972, in the historically charged Bogside neighborhood. It is a must-see for anyone wishing to understand and delve into the city's recent history and, by extension, the complicated history of Northern Ireland. It traces the historical and political context in which the neighborhood was born and puts Derry's past and the recent drama of Bloody Sunday in 1972 into perspective.

The event that set off the fire was the commemoration, in 1969, of the Apprentice Boys episode, which itself dates back to the 17th century and relates to the siege of the city by the Protestants, to fight against the arrival of a Catholic military garrison. In an already tense political climate, the passage of the procession near Bogside was considered a provocation by its inhabitants. Hostilities began, in an atmosphere of guerrilla warfare and barricades. The next day, soldiers of the British army were sent to guard the place, which only made the situation worse. This escalation culminated a few years later in the tragedy known as Bloody Sunday. A particularly striking piece in the museum is the film William McKinney made from the roof of a building that day. Surprised with his camera, he was killed on the spot. A museum, like a place of memory, obviously touching, hard too, but essential to the understanding of the neighborhood, the city and the country. The Museum of Free Derry was really necessary to restore the order of things and the truth. The deep and moving purpose of this museum is also to free the word and educate the public so that such events do not happen again and the truth is never suppressed in this way. The panels at the end of the exhibition on the role of the press in the treatment of Bloody Sunday are chilling and thought-provoking. We must go beyond appearances, keep our critical mind and defend above all justice and freedom. This is the vital message of the museum. To visit it at best, you can download an application to get explanations in French. It is a very interactive museum with archival videos, audio testimonies of survivors. Don't hesitate to ask questions to the museum staff, most of whom have lived through these events and will be happy to explain them to you in the most accurate way possible.