AlexCork, the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, is situated slightly inland from the southern coast of the Emerald Isle. The city centre is compact and located on an island in the River Lee. The best way to experience Cork is still to walk the streets of the city. Follow us!
A 15th century castle
The first pitfall of a trip is the cultural heritage. Indeed, it’s a good idea to start the day with what might be (for some!) the least exciting, so as to let the pace build to a crescendo. On a more serious note, Blarney Castle, located 6 km north of the city, offers the opportunity to discover a building dating from the 15th century, more or less well preserved, but retaining all the charm of a medieval castle.
But whoever says visit says tourists and who says tourists says catchers. Indeed, you can queue up like everyone else and wait for an hour and a half surrounded by retired Texans (it’s written on their t-shirts) to climb to the top of the highest tower and kiss “the Blarney Stone”, which would give you the gift of eloquence, and the right to buy your souvenir photo…
However, if you don’t want to play the sheep and kiss the same stone as thousands of people before you (which from a hygienic point of view is highly questionable), you can go for a walk in the park. Perfectly maintained, as the Irish know how to do, you will find a lake, gardens and above all an 18th century Georgian house whose architecture will delight the purists.
A pleasant town centre
Once the castle is out of the way, let’s get down to business! The city of Cork is quite charming, which does not prevent you from dying of hunger after having worn out your soles in the alleys of the park all morning. One of the many restaurants in the city will be happy to welcome you, between the classics (pizzerias, fast food) and the traditional Irish ones. But please note that for dessert nothing beats a good ice cream (yes, even in Ireland), the ones you will find on “Oliver Plunkett Street” are excellent, for very reasonable prices.
Now it’s time for digestion and the traditional walk. If you head to the University of Cork campus you will find some beautiful green spaces (yes, another park, but this is Ireland) and buildings with a certain cachet.
It is worth pointing out here for those considering studying in Ireland, that Cork has around 36,000 students of which around 10% are international students from over 100 countries around the world!
“The English Market
In addition to its campus, Cork has a city centre that is well worth a visit, if only for its liveliness. And if you have the good idea to push the doors of the “English Market” you will enter what is surely one of the most beautiful places in the city. Despite a name that would make all the islanders shudder, the place is beautiful. Of course, as in any market, it is full of people and stalls of all kinds. Except that here the building, with its many stairs, is made mostly of wood, which gives its charm to this particular place.
Wandering from stall to stall, you may come across a French cheese stall with tears in your eyes, from which you will walk away with tears in your eyes after seeing the prices. Your little tour of the market would not be complete if you did not take the trouble to go upstairs where a balcony awaits you that stretches three-quarters of the way around the building. Up there, a restaurant and a sort of tea room await you for a quiet snack with a view of the hustle and bustle of the place.
With that, the day is already over and it’s time to go home, thinking that Cork is a city worth visiting!
But there is of course much more to discover in the beautiful city of Cork, so we encourage you to take a look at the Cork City website.
