Wonder What’s Inside? European Heritage Open Days 2013

Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th September

European Heritage Open Days – one of my favourite times of the year for my job.  Thanks to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) I get to travel across each County in Northern Ireland photographing and documenting some of our built heritage that is often hidden from sight.

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Helens Tower County Down

Two months before the event we sit down with NIEA and go over the many properties opening and highlight 14 to be part of our Panoramic EHOD Road Trip.

Then it’s on to contacting and scheduling suitable dates for the photography with the property owners – many of which are new to our style of photography and are invariably most intrigued.

Once dates are in the diary then it’s time to hit the road.  We travel the length and breadth of Northern Ireland posting pics to our Facebook (#EHODNI) & Twitter (#EHOD13) channels along the journey and ultimately publishing 360° interactive panoramic pictures of the places we’ve seen.

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We love the idea that we can bring you (virtually) with us on our journeys discovering places known and not so known – giving you a virtual prelude to the real-world experience that awaits you.

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Armagh Gaol Co Armagh

European Heritage Days are held annually in September in 50 signatory states to the European Cultural Convention. The central principle was as simple as it was compelling: to throw open the doors to historic monuments and buildings, in particular those normally closed to the public.

One of the key requirements was to offer free access to all properties taking part in the European Heritage Days.

This is the 16th year that Northern Ireland has taken part in this Europe wide event.  Over 410 properties and events across Northern Ireland will be opening for FREE on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September.  One hundred brand new properties and events are also taking part in 2013, including the newly refurbished St Columb’s Hall in Derry~Londonderry

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St Columbs Hall Co Londonderry

See and hear our built heritage as our sites and buildings come alive with living history, film screenings, literary events, theatre performances, visual arts, art exhibitions and much more!

The European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) is, at its heart, a celebration of our built heritage and the history, stories and cultural impacts these have had and to raise appreciation for Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse cultural assets and their need for care and protection.

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Titanic Dock & Pumphouse Belfast

This year, they have been inspired by the City of Culture 2013 and have a programme of special cultural events. This year, marks the 400th anniversary of the building of the City‘s historic walls

There are over 35 buildings and monuments opening within the City itself, illustrating a timeline which tells the story of the architectural evolution of the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the ‘finest examples of a walled city in Europe’

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1st Derry Presbyterian Church Co Londonderry

There are also many creative ways for you to explore Northern Ireland’s built heritage, such as PLACE NI’s Architectural Photography tours of Belfast and Sketching Classes at EHOD favourites Stormont Castle and the Ulster Hall.

For more information:

• Download a copy of the brochure here for all the info.
• Check out the EHOD website here.

Happy Heritage Hunting!

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