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County Down
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| Attractions: Down County Gaol Dromore Dundrum Castle Goward Portal Tomb Mourne Mountains |
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| Co. Down Dún Prov. Ulster Nortern Ireland (United Kingdom) |
| Major cities: Downpatrick |
| Surface: 2,448 km2 Population: 416,600 |
Geographical speaking County Down is a county of contrasts: fertile and cultivated low hills in the north, while the south is dominated by the rough granite Mourne Mountains.
A second remarkable feature of County Down is Strangford Loch. This loch is connected by a gap in the Ards Peninsula with the sea and is therefore not really a lake. A very scenic road follows the contours of the Ards Peninsula.
County Down bears the traces of 7,000 years human history and the number of archaeological sites and ancient monuments is enormous. The most impressive megalithic monument is the Goward Portal Tomb with a capstone of estimated 50 tons.
The invaders of Ulster also left their traces in County Down. The remnants of Dundrum Castle still show signs of the Normandy roots of John de Coursy, while his stronghold in Dromore only survived in a lullaby.
While you are in County Down you can not pass the grave of Saint Patrick in Downpatrick.
The largest town of the county is Belfast, technically speaking only the part on the east bank from the River Lagan. With such a magnet all activities in the county are drawn to Belfast, making other towns more or less dormant suburban areas of Belfast. Seemingly Belfast is relieved and enjoying the nowadays calm situation, after a turbulent and violent era. Suddenly new pubs, restaurants, shops and galleries starting to appear, all making a visit to this tormented city worthwhile.