Aberdeen
|
View more Scottish Regions
About Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city and is nicknamed the "Granite City" beccause of it's 18th century granite industry and the extensive use of the material in the area. Fishing is another historically important local industry which still thrives today (though many complain that it is failing). However Aberdeen's more recent history is heavily influenced by the discovery of Oil in the North Sea in the 1970's. Since then the oil industry has become the most important industry with Aberdeen now nicknamed the "oil Capital Of Europe".
Aberdeen has three cathederals, St. Mary's Roman Catholic, the Episcopal St. Andrew's and St. Machar's. St. Machar's Cathederal is the oldest and made of granite with a spectacular heraldic ceiling. Aberdeen is also known for it's colleges with an ancient and proud history in education. Marischal College was founded in 1593 and has been continually updated and is now part of the University of Aberdeen and houses the Marischal Museum which is open to the public and free to enter. Another ancient college now part of the university is King's College which was founded in 1495. King's College can be found in Old Aberdeen and it's historic buildings are spectacular and well worth seeing. Newer buildings such as the Elphinstone Hall have been aesthetically designed to blend with the older buildings (the chapel was built around 1500) and the college is the centrepiece of the University of Aberdeen's Old Aberdeen campus (known as the King's [College] campus).
Another nickname of Aberdeen is the "Silver City with the Golden Sands" in reference to the silver of the granite and the contrasting golden sands of Aberdeen's 2 miles (3.2km) of sandy beach which stretch not=rthward from the pier. The beach is backed by a wide promenade and there are plenty of seaside attractions such as amusement parks and leasure centres on Beach Boulevard.
Aberdeen Links:
Aberdeen Hotels
A comprehensive accommodation listing for Aberdeen and the surrounding area.