Bray (Ireland) - Bray (Irlanda)

Bray is a city ofIreland central.

To know

Bray, a town in County Wicklow, is located at the southern end of the Bay of Dublin, the Irish capital, from which it is a few kilometers away and of which it can be considered as a satellite city.

Geographical notes

Bray is bordered to the north by the mouth of the river Dargle, which originates in the Wicklow Mountains and south of the headland Bray HeadThe city is located on the coast of the Irish Sea and is bordered to the south by Greystones, also reachable with a walk on Bray Head.

Background

Bray has been an important town since the 12th century. Two castles were built during the Middle Ages, one of which is still visible in Oldcourt.

In 1649 Oliver Cromwell made a stop in Bray on his way from Dublin to Wexford.

The city remained a small fishing village until the second half of the 18th century, when the Dublin nobles decided to settle here to escape the city life. Bray has long been a trendy resort for the wealthier classes of Dublin andIreland. Its expansion and transformation began in 1854 when the railway that connected it Dublin is Kingstown, built in 1834, was extended by linking it together with other cities on the Irish coast. Today a few buildings dating back to before the mid-nineteenth century survive, and in particular in the last 50 years the city has transformed to become a primarily residential center for people working in the capital.

How to orient yourself

The Bray tourist office is located in the public offices on the main road, just after the Bank of Ireland.

How to get

By plane

The nearest airport is that of Dublin.

• 53.426534-6.2506721 Dublin Airport. As of 2014, flights from Italian airports were operated by the following companies: Aer Lingus for Verona, Milan Malpensa and Linate, Venice, Bologna, Rome Fiumicino, Naples is Catania is Ryanair for Bergamo-Orio al Serio, Treviso, Bologna, Pisa, Rome Ciampino, Bari, Alghero, Palermo is Comiso. 

By car

Bray is easily accessible by car from Dublin and from Arklow is Wexford. The N11 national road connects it with the Irish capital.

The M50 motorway provides access to Bray from all major Irish cities.

From the south, the N11 road widened to the county of Wexford, connects Bray with many urban centers such as Rosslare, Gorey, Wexford, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Wicklow is Greystones.

On the train

In Bray there is a station of the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), which connects the city center with the two ends of the bay. Trains depart approximately every 15 minutes. A free wifi internet service is active on the DART trains (you only need to accept the terms and conditions of use: do not download files and do not watch streaming videos).

The DART travels across the Dublin Bay from Malahide is Howth north to Bray and Greystones south via Dublin city center.

Bray station is also located on the lines Dublin–Rosslare is Dundalk–Dublin–Arklow.

By bus

Bray is connected with Dublin from frequent bus companies: Dublin Bus, Glendalough Bus, Bus Eireann and Finnegan's Bray.

How to get around

By public transport

Finnegans Bray operates a minibus service from the DART station to Southern Cross Road. The rides are usually every 30 minutes and are easily visible due to the red color. There is also the Luas in service from Monday to Saturday. It runs from Southern Cross Road to Sandyford Luas Station. Not it goes to the DART station so you will have to go towards Bray Main Street.

What see

• James Joyce house, 1 Martello Terrace (5 minutes walk from the center), ☎ 353 1 286-0568. Open on Thursdays and Saturdays from May to December. Youth home of the Irish writer (1887 to 1891). The house is dominated by a Martello Tower which belonged to Bono during the 1980s. 
• 53.196556-6.125341 ^{[link not working]}Ardmore Studios. The Bray headquarters of the Irish national film studios. Braveheart, Save Private Ryan is My left foot they were filmed here. The latest productions include a BBC series about the Tudors. 
• 53.202451-6.09722 Seafront. The promenade along the sea, the expands2km long, it was built starting in 1881. Singer Sinead O'Connor owns one of the Victorian houses on the edge of the promenade. 
• 53.200871-6.11113 city ​​Hall (town hall) (At the southern end of the main street in Bray). An extremely picturesque building built in the style old english to celebrate the fortune and prosperity of the town in the 19th century. The Wyvern, a mythological creature similar to a dragon, in front of the building represents the effigy of the Brabazon family. The building is now unfortunately occupied by a branch of the McDonals fast food chain. 
• 53.184967-6.1023484 Kilruddery House, Southern Cross Road (at the end of Greystones Road). It was the home of the Earl of Meath for 350 years. The garden was planned by Monsieur Bonet in 1682, and is one of the few gardens to have survived the charm of the romantic gardens. The twin channels, known as Long Ponds, are 152 m wide and are similar to those of the Chateau de Courances in France. 
• 53.203456-6.0981695 National Sea Life Bray (aquarium) (2 minutes from the DART station), ☎ 353 1 2866939. Online: Adults € 10; children 7,5 €. In person: Adults € 12.5; children € 9.5. Mon-Sun 10: 00-18: 00. Aquarium with more than 30 tanks that house more than a thousand species of aquatic animals such as bears, seahorses and piranhas. 
• Festina Lente, Old Connaught Avenue. A Victorian garden. 
• Bray Harbor (Left after the bridge). Bray Harbor is now a nature reserve where you can admire Chinese swans and geese. 

Events and parties

• Bray St. Patrick's Carnival & Parade. in the week of March 17th. 5 days of parades and live entertainment. 
• Killruddery Film Festival, in Killruddery Gardens. Silent Film Festival 
• Jazz Festival. a weekend in May. Established in 2000, it has become one of Ireland's premier jazz events. 
• Summerfest. 6 weeks in July and August. More than one hundred events with live music, market exhibitions and attractions for the little ones are organized every year during the festival. 

What to do

The cliff walk from Bray to Greystones, which lasts about an hour and a half, offers great views. In rare cases it is possible to see one Feral goat, a goat also known by the Latin name of Capra aegagrus hircus. The walk follows the path of the railway line, built by Victorian-era engineers.

In the immediate vicinity of the center it is also possible to play golf and tennis, go fishing and sailing or go horse riding.

The Cliff Walk from Bray to Greystones is a 90 minute walk during which you can take in beautiful views. This is followed by the railway line, a notable example of Victorian engineering. The tunnels run under Bray Head and were made necessary because the Earls of Meath did not want the railroad to pass over their land in Kilruddery.

Quad biking and other activities like target shooting or paintballing in the nearby Wicklow Mountains. Bray above all can be the starting point for hiking and maybe walking the Wicklow Way.

Shopping

• Geoffrey Healy Pottery, Rocky Valley, Kilmacanogue. In this shop you can find handmade ceramic objects, even in limited edition 

Markets

• Farmer's Market: every Sunday outside the Mermaid Center on Main Street, from 10.30 to about 16.00. In this market it is possible to find organic fruit and vegetables produced in the vicinity of Bray;
• Flea market: next to the station (head towards the seafront, after the level crossing on the right), an antiques and modern antiques market is set up every Sunday.

How to have fun

Night clubs

• The Harbor Bar, 1—4 Dock Terrace, (in front of Bray harbor), ☎ 353 1 2862274. One of the most beautiful and famous bars inIreland and voted best bar in the world by Lonely Planet. Unmissable. 
• Duff's, Main Street (in front of Town Hall). from 18. No tv, great beer. 
• The Porterhouse Bray, Strand Rd, ☎ 353 1 286 0668. It is part of the chain of pubs already present in the center of Dublin. 

Where to eat

On the promenade there are several places to stop. There are also several pubs where you can have lunch or dinner.

Average prices

• Campo de Fiori, 1 Albert Ave (behind the DART station), ☎ 353 1 2764257. Italian restaurant. 
• Betelnut Cafe, Bray Main St (partly at the Mermaid Arts Center). daytime only. Coffee and light meals. 
• The DugOut Quinsboro. Great for breakfast and lunch, different menus on offer every day at a special price. 
• Takeaway Daata Tandoori. Pakistani cuisine. 

Where stay

Safety

How to keep in touch

Keep informed

The Tourist Office is located inside the Civic Offices on Main street. Get off at Town Hall and the offices are on the right just past the Bank of Ireland.

Around

• Powerscourt - is one of Ireland's most celebrated mansions and gardens and is located south of Bray in the village of Enniskerry. Designed by Richard Castle in 1741 for the Viscounts Powerscourt. It was remodeled a century later in the Italian style. It seems to be inspired by Villa Butera in Sicily. The Japanese garden is an addition made in the Edwardian period. Also look at the animal cemetery. The waterfall is the tallest in Ireland and measures 121m and there are many green paths.
• Glendalough - is located within the Wicklow Mountains National Park. It is one of the oldest monastic sites in Ireland, said to have been founded by St Kevin, a follower of St Patrick, in the 7th century. It is a very suggestive place where you can admire a round tower, the cemetery and several buildings of the time. There are paths in the middle of the woods that connect the two beautiful lakes.
• The Glencree German War Cemetery - about 10 km from Enniskerry, difficult to get there by public transport. 134 graves mainly of members of the German Air Force and Navy of the Second World War.
• There Wicklow Way - the longest hiking trail in Ireland, 127km. It takes about 5-6 days to complete. The Wicklow Way combines ease of travel with many beautiful landscapes to admire some of which are in remote areas.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Bray (Ireland)
• Commons contains images or other files on Bray (Ireland)

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