Aberdeen, often called The Granite City, is Scotland’s third largest city, with a population of 212,125, and the greatest part of the City of Aberdeen is surrounded by, but not within, the Aberdeendshire council area. Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the northeast of Scotland.

It boasts the title of Oil Capital of Europe thanks to the plentiful supply of crude oil in the Noth Sea, and stands on a bay of the North Sea, between the mouths of the rivers Don and Dee.

Aberdeen grew up as two separate burghs – Old Aberdeen at the mouth of the River Don and New Aberdeen, a fishing and trading settlement where the Denburn entered the Dee estuary. The earliest charter was granted by King William the Lion about 1179, confirming the corporate rights granted by David I. The city received other royal charters later. In 1319, the Great Charter of Robert the Bruce transformed Aberdeen into a property owning and financially independent community. Bruce had a high regard for the citizens of Aberdeen who had sheltered him in his days of outlawry, helped him win the Battle of Barra and slayed the English garrison at the Castle. He granted Aberdeen with the nearby Forest of Stocket. The income from this land has formed the basis for the city's Common Good Fund, which is used to this day for the benefit of all Aberdonians.

The city was burned by Edward III of England in 1336, but was soon rebuilt and extended, and called New Aberdeen. For many centuries the city was subject to attacks by the neighboring lords, and was strongly fortified, but the gates were all removed by 1770. In 1497 a blockhouse was built at the harbor mouth as a protection against the English. During the Scottish civil War of 1644-47 between the Royalists and Covenanters the city was impartially plundered by both sides. In 1644, it was taken and sacked by Royalist troops comprising of Irishmen and Highlanders after the Battle of Aberdeen. In 1715 the Earl Marischal proclaimed the Old Pretender at Aberdeen, and in 1745 the Duke of Cumberland resided for a short time in the city before attacking the Young Pretender.

In the 18th century a new Town Hall was built, elegantly furnished with a marble fireplace from Holland and a set of fine crystal chandeliers and sconces. The latter are still a feature in the Town House. This century also saw the beginnings of social services for the Infirmary at Woolmanhill, which was opened in 1742 and the Lunatic Asylum in 1779.

The 19th century was a time of considerable expansion. By 1901 the population was 153,000 and the city covered more than 6,000 acres (24 km²). In the late 18th century, the council embarked on a scheme of road improvements, and by 1805 George Street, King Street and Union Street were open, the latter a feat of extraordinary engineering skill involving the partial leveling of St Catherine's Hill and the building of arches to carry the street over Putachieside. The Denburn Valley was crossed by Union Street with a single span arch of 130 ft (40 m). Along these new streets was built the nucleus of the Granite City in buildings designed by John Smith and Archibald Simpson.

The increasing economic importance of Aberdeen and the development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries brought a need for improved harbor facilities. During this century much of the harbor as it exists today was built including Victoria Dock, the South Breakwater and the extension to the North Pier. Such an expensive building programme had, of course, repercussions, and in 1817 the city was in a state of bankruptcy. However, a recovery was made in the general prosperity, which followed the Napoleonic wars. Improvements in street lighting came in 1824 with the advent of gas, and a vast improvement was made to the water supply in 1830 when water was pumped from the Dee to a reservoir in Union Place. An underground sewerage system was begun in 1865 to replace the open sewers, which previously ran along the streets.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival

Aberdeen International Youth Festival is one of Scotland’s major international cultural events and the world’s premier festival of youth arts.

Each year Aberdeen International Youth Festival attracts up to 1000 of the most talented young performers and performing companies from across the globe. It provides a showcase for their talents and creates innovative and exciting new work by bringing them together with leading professionals and artists.

The event brings color, spectacle and vibrant creativity to Aberdeen and the North East and has attracted talented companies from over 70 countries to Scotland. As well as the ticketed events the Festival stages a parade, open-air performances and a fringe programme in community venues.

A packed ten-day programme attracts over 30,000 people to around seventy events throughout North East Scotland. There are concerts, dance shows and galas in major Aberdeen venues such as His Majesty’s Theater, The Music Hall and The Lemon Tree, and as well as smaller venues such as churches like Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen and also features a touring programme taking events to rural venues.

The AIYF programme includes something for everyone with symphony orchestras and steel bands, song recitals and jazz, traditional music, world music, ballet, contemporary and traditional dance. The festival also produces a critically acclaimed and radical young opera, (Opera Garden) as well as producing unique international performances.

Places of interest

Union Street - is one of the most imposing and famous thoroughfares in Britain. From Castle Street it runs for nearly a mile (1.5 km), is 70 ft (21 m) wide, and originally contained the principal shops and most of the public buildings, all of granite. Part of the street crosses the Denburn ravine (utilized for the line of the Great North of Scotland railway) by Union Bridge, a fine granite arch of 132 ft (40 m) span, with portions of the older town still fringing the gorge, 50 feet (15 m) below the level of Union Street. Union Street was built from 1801 to 1805, and named after the 1800 Act of Union with Ireland.

Amongst the notable buildings in the street are the Town and County Bank, the Music Hall 1822, the Trinity Hall of the incorporated trades (originating between 1398 and 1527), now a shopping mall; the Palace Hotel; the former office of the Northern Assurance Company, and the National Bank of Scotland.

In Castle Street, a continuation eastwards of Union Street, is the Town House, the headquarters of the city council. One of the most splendid granite edifices in Scotland, in the Franco-Scottish Gothic style, it contains the great hall, with an open timber ceiling and oak-paneled walls; the Sheriff Court House; the Town and County Hall, with portraits of Prince Albert, the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, various Lord Provosts and other distinguished citizens. In the vestibule of the entrance corridor stands a suit of black armor, believed to have been worn by Provost Sir Robert Davidson, who fought in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. On the southwestern corner is the 210 ft (64 m) grand tower, which commands a fine view of the city and surrounding country. Adjoining the Town House is the old North of Scotland Bank building, in Greek revival style. This building is now a pub named the Archibald Simpson, after its original architect. On the opposite side of the street is the fine building of the Union Bank, redeveloped in 2005 as the High Court. The third permanent high court to sit in Scotland.

At the upper end of Castlegate stands The Salvation Army Citadel, an effective castellated mansion, on the site of the medieval castle. In front of it is the Market Cross, built in 1686 by John Montgomery, a native architect. This open-arched structure, 21 ft (6 m) in diameter and 18 ft (5 m) high, comprises a large hexagonal base from the centre of which rises a shaft with a Corinthian capital, on which is the royal unicorn. The base is highly decorated, including medallions illustrating Scottish monarchs from James I to James VII

To the east of Castle Street were the military barracks, which were demolished in 1965 and replaced with two tower blocks.

Marischal College on Broad Street, opened by King Edward VII in 1906, is the second largest granite building in the world (after the Escorial Madrid), and is one of the most splendid examples of Edwardian architecture in Britain. The architect, Alexander Marshall McKenzie a native of Aberdeen, adapted his material, white granite, to the design of the building with the originality of genius. This magnificent building is sadly no longer a seat of learning and is under renovation as the new home of Aberdeen City Council.

There are no tramways in Aberdeen. The last tram went through the streets in 1958. All trams except one were scrapped. The last tram is on display in the Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire.

The city is blessed with amenities which cover a wide range of cultural activities and boasts a selection of museums. The city is regularly visited by Scottish National Art Companies. The Aberdeen Art Gallery houses a collection of Impressionist, Victorian, Scottish and 20th Century British paintings as well as collections of silver and glass. It also includes The Alexander Macdonald Bequest, a collection of late 19th century works donated by the museum's first benefactor and a constantly changing collection of contemporary work and regular visiting exhibitions.

The Aberdeen Maritime Museum - located in Shiprow, tells the story of Aberdeen's links with the sea from the days of sail and clipper ships to the latest oil and gas exploration technology. The museum includes a range of interactive exhibits and models, including an 8.5m (28 feet) high model of the Murchison oil production platform and a 19th Century assembly taken from Rattray Head lighthouse.

Provost Ross' House - is the second oldest dwelling house in the city. It was built in 1593 and became the residence of Provost John Ross of Arnage in 1702. The house retains some original medieval features, including a kitchen, fireplaces and beam-and-board ceilings. The Gordon Highlanders Regimental Museum tells the story of one of Scotland's best-known regiments.

The Marischal Museum - holds the principal collections of the University of Aberdeen, comprising some 80,000 items in the areas of fine art, Scottish history & archaeology, and European, Mediterranean & Near Eastern archaeology. The museum is open to the public, but also provides an important resource for the University's students and researchers. The permanent displays and reference collections are augmented by regular temporary exhibitions.

Parks

Duthie Park - 50 acres (202,000 m²)), situated on Riverside Drive, was named after and gifted to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie of Ruthrieston in 1881 and opened by Princess Beatrice in 1883 It occupies an excellent site on the north bank of the Dee and includes extensive gardens, a rose hill, boating pond, bandstand, and play area as well as the David Welch Winter Gardens. First opened in 1899, the Winter Gardens were rebuilt in 1970 following storm damage and extended. They are Europe's largest indoor gardens and one of the most visited in Scotland.

Victoria Park - 13 acres (53,000 m²) opened in 1871, is a beautiful park situated in the northwestern area. There is a conservatory used as a seating area and a fountain made of 14 different granites, presented to the people by the granite polishers and master builders of Aberdeen.

Westburn Park - 13 acres (53,000 m²) opposite Victoria Park, caters for football and tennis, has a children's cycle track and a play area. An open section of the Westburn runs through the park.

Stewart Park - (15 acres (61,000 m²) opened in 1894. The park was named after a former Lord Provost of the city, Sir David Stewart; a section is reserved for cricket and football.

Hazlehead Park - is a large, heavily wooded park on the outskirts of the city. It is popular with sports enthusiasts, walkers, naturalists and picnickers. Around the park are football pitches, two golf courses, pitch and putt course, a horse riding school and woods for walking. The park has a significant collection of sculpture by a range of artists and heritage items, which have been rescued from various places within the city. It also features Scotland's oldest maze, first planted in 1938.

Aberdeen Beach/Queen's Links - is a well-loved and extremely popular recreational area of the city, visited by holidaymakers and city residents all year round. The area is well provided with sporting and recreational facilities, including the Beach Leisure Centre and the Lynx Ice Arena, cafes, restaurants, a fun fair, a multiplex cinema and other attractions.

Johnston Gardens - is also a great park worth visiting. Situated behind Queen's Road and just beside Viewfield Road. It hosts many different types of flowers and plants, which have been renowned for their beauty. Johnston Gardens also won many 'Britain in Bloom' competitions. Aberdeen itself has won the title of best city 'In Bloom' for 9 nine years in a row.

Seaton Park - (270,000 m²) is located in the north of the city and was purchased by the Council in 1947 from Major Hay. Beside the park's south gates stands St Machar's Cathedral. There are flowerbeds and a walled garden beside the old stables, which have been converted for housing. The Cathedral Walk is always a resplendent sight in midsummer and one of the most popular with visitors to the city. Seaton Park is also an access point for the River Don and there is a walk from the park to the city boundary.

Union Terrace Gardens - forms a popular rendezvous location in the heart of the city.

Statues

Adjacent to Union Terrace Gardens stands a colossal bronze statue of William Wallace by W. G. Stevenson. Also nearby these same gardens is a bronze statue of Robert Burns and Charles seated figure of Prince Albert.

In front of Robert Gordon's College is the bronze statue, by T. S. Burnett, of General Gordon.

At the head of Queen's Road stands the bronze statue of Queen Victoria, erected in 1893 by the royal tradesmen of the city.

Near the Cross stands the granite statue of George Gordon, 5th Duke of Gordon.

There is a 70 ft (21 m) high obelisk of Pererhead granite, originally erected in the square of Marischal College, to the memory of Sir James McGrigor (1778-1851), the military surgeon and director-general of the Army Medical Department, who was thrice, elected lord rector of the College. In the 1890’s hen the College was extended, the obelisk was moved to the Duthie Park.

There is also a statue commemorating Lord Byron in Aberdeen Grammar School in the front grounds.

Bridges

The Dee is crossed by a number of bridges, from east to west:

• Victoria Bridge
• Queen Elizabeth Bridge
• Wellington Suspension Bridge
• Railway Bridge
• King George VI Bridge
• Bridge of Dee
• St. Devenick's Bridge

Until 1832, the only access to the city from the south was the Bridge of Dee. It consists of seven semicircular ribbed arches, is about 30 ft (10 m) high, and was built early in the 16th century by Bishops Elphinstone and Dunbar. It was nearly all rebuilt 1718-1723, and in 1842 was widened from 14 to 26 ft (4 to 8 m). This was the site of a battle in 1639 between the Royalists under Viscount Aboyne and the Covenanters who were led by the Marquis of Montrose.

St. Devenick's Bridge, which crosses the Dee from Ardoe to Cults, was built in 1837 to link the now ruined Banchory Devenick Parish Church, on the south bank of the Dee, with its parishioners, who lived on the north bank. It was officially named St. Devenick's Bridge, but is popularly known by Aberdonians as the Shakin' Briggie or Shakkin Briggie, or as Morrison Bridge. The cast-iron pedestrian footbridge was damaged by floods in 1876 and 1920, and was reconstructed in the1920’s. However, due to erosion, the Dee shifted its course in the 1970’s and1980’s, sweeping away the southern approach spans, and in 1984 the decking was removed as a safety precaution. The bridge is a Grade A listed structure and there are plans to restore it.

From east to west the Don is crossed by:

• Bridge of Don
• Brig o' Balgownie
• Grandholm Bridge
• Persley Bridge

The Bridge of Don has five granite arches, each 75 ft (23 m) in span, and was built 1827-1832. A little to the west is the Auld Brig o’ Balgowinie, a picturesque single arch spanning the deep black stream, said to have been built by King Robert I, and celebrated by George Gordon Byron, 6thBaron Byron in the tenth canto of " Don Juan".