Historic monuments
There are now 190 historic monuments in state care in Northern Ireland. They represent all periods of human settlement from around 7,000BC to the 20th century, and include such well known examples as Carrickfergus Castle.
Open to the public
Many of these sites are open to the public, although some may be temporarily closed at times to allow works to take place. In some cases, at more remote monuments, public access is not yet available and there is an ongoing programme to provide or enhance access to these sites.
The most popular sites, such as Dunluce Castle and Carrickfergus Castle, are staffed throughout the year and have dedicated visitor facilities. Some sites have a dedicated guide during the summer months and may or may not have visitor facilities.
Scheduled monuments
There are also 1,800 historic monuments in Northern Ireland which are classified as 'scheduled monuments'. This means they are protected and the owner or occupier is responsible for their maintenance.
These include sites dating from 7,000 BC to the 20th century, such as: prehistoric tombs, earthworks, castles, churches, maritime sites, canals, World War II defences and the ‘Samson and Goliath’ cranes in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
You can find out which monuments are scheduled in the Schedule of Historic Monuments July 2010
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