Isle of Man in England. Full description of the Isle of Man

Crown dependency of the British Crown. Located in the Irish Sea at about the same distance from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 1973, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) joined the EU along with Gibraltar. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands did not join the EU. The symbol of the Isle of Man is the triskelion, three running legs coming out of the same point. The triskelion symbolizes stability, which is reflected in the island's motto. It is also depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the island.

The Romans who conquered Britain did not become interested in the Isle of Man and did not establish a permanent colony there, as evidenced by the extremely small number of Roman artifacts found on the island. According to legend, Christianity was brought to the Isle of Man by Saint Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland). In any case, the island was early converted to Christianity. Presumably, the island was baptized at the beginning of the VI century. The missionaries were probably Irish.

The Normans appeared in the Irish Sea at the end of the 8th century. Between 800 and 815, the Vikings raided the island, in the second half of the 9th century they founded their settlements on the island and subjugated the island to their power. Between 850 and 890 the island was subject to the Scandinavian kings of Dublin, and between 890 and 1079 to the earls of Orkney. Throughout the Scandinavian period, the island was formally a vassal of Norway, but in fact the Norwegians hardly interfered in the affairs of the island.

In 1265, the Isle of Man was conquered by the Scots. As a result of the Treaty of Perth between Norway and Scotland (signed on July 2, 1266), Norway renounced its claims to the Isle of Man, which formally became part of Scotland, but only in 1275, after the battle of Ronaldsway near Castletown, did the Scots establish actual control over the island .

During the first half of the 14th century, the Isle of Man repeatedly passed from England to Scotland and vice versa. England finally established itself on the island after Scotland was defeated at the Battle of Neville's Cross on October 17, 1346.

During the English Revolution, in 1643, the English King Charles I ordered the then Lord of the island, James Stanley, to go to the island to pacify the revolutionary moods that were brewing there. English soldiers were assigned to support him. Stanley and his garrison established a harsh rule on the island, limiting the freedom of the inhabitants. On the other hand, he helped the inhabitants, for example, on his orders, English craftsmen arrived on the island, who taught the locals useful crafts.

In 1704, Tynwald passed an important law known as the Act of Settlement. Prior to this, all land on the island was considered the property of the lord. Peasants had no right to sell, buy or donate their land plots without the permission of the lord. Obtaining such a permit was accompanied by the payment of a large fee. The Settlement Act secured the island's inhabitants the right to permanent possession of their land plots, subject to the payment of a small rent. Tariffs on the sale, purchase and inheritance of land have been significantly reduced.

In the 18th century, smuggling became a very popular activity among the inhabitants. The British government could no longer turn a blind eye to unauthorized trade, and in 1765 the British Parliament passed an act in accordance with which the island was bought from the lord for seventy thousand pounds. Thus, the British authorities had more opportunities to combat smuggling.

In the 19th century, tourism became the most important branch of the island's economy. Mass tourism began in the 1830s with the establishment of a regular steamship service between the island (primarily Douglas) and Liverpool. The number of tourists visiting the island grew throughout the 19th century and early 20th century. For example, if in the 1870s one hundred thousand tourists visited the island every year, then in 1913 the island was visited by 663,000 tourists. After that, due to the outbreak of the First World War, the number of tourists decreased, and the peak of 1913 was beaten only in 1948, but after that year the number of tourists began to decline. This is due to the gradual increase in the welfare of the population and the development of aviation, which resulted in an increase in the popularity of resorts in Southern Europe and more exotic places.

The island has one airport (Isle of Man airport) located near Castletown. Almost all of the island's public transport is operated by the Isle of Man transport government agency. It is possible to purchase travel cards for all types of transport for several days. System public transport comprises bus routes throughout the island, intercity tram lines from Douglas to Ramsey, steam railway lines from Douglas to Castletown and Port Erin, and mountain railway leading to the top of Mount Snefil.

English is spoken on the island. Its own language (Manx) was lost, but in Lately there has been a resurgence of interest in it, and about two percent of the island's population now owns it to a greater or lesser extent.

Maine is where motorcycle racing takes place on public roads, city roads. The Isle of Man is the motorsport capital. Thanks to this event locals annually receive large profits from the influx of tourists. The local treasury is replenished with huge sums (about 20 million pounds) thanks to thousands of fans of this sport.

Between England and Northern Ireland West Coast) is the small Celtic Isle of Man.

It is located more than 40 km from the coast of (northwest) England, in other words, the island is located in the middle of the Irish Sea, almost equidistant from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The area of ​​the island is 572 square kilometers.

Today Maine is a British protectorate. It has its own unique ancient Celtic language, its own money and stamps, the oldest parliament in the world, its own offshore zone with great banking activity. It is the place of the highest technologies and the world center of motorcycling.

Motorcycle racing "TT" on the Isle of Man, held annually in the summer (May-June), is essentially an unofficial world championship.

Island symbol, meaning

The coat of arms of the island (symbol) is a circle consisting of three running legs in armor, coming out of one point. The motto reads: "No matter how you throw us, we will rise to our feet." All this symbolizes stability and prosperity on the island.

On the coat of arms, in addition to the triskelion, there is a falcon and a raven. Traveling around the country, you can often come across names translated as “raven”. Mystical birds migrated to the island from Scandinavian legends. They talk about Odin (god) and his sacred ravens, who flew around the whole world and told the god about what was happening there.

Attractions of the island

Numerous Viking boats stood on the waterfront in the old days in the port. This place is still the most beautiful in the state. Along the entire embankment stretch beautiful old streets the city of Douglas - the cozy capital of the Isle of Man. Original lanterns along the streets, buildings with individual architectural elements, which give the overall look of the city a touch of elegance. All around are attractive red telephone boxes (England style).

For lovers extreme species sports have the opportunity to see the most important attraction - amazing races. The Isle of Man hosts guests annually on this occasion.

There are not many historical sights on the island: the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Museum of Transport and the most magnificent windmill in the world. You can also see unique things that have been preserved only here. For example, a horse-drawn tram on which you can ride. This is a small red trailer drawn by a horse. There is also a conductor.

The Isle of Man airport currently operates on the island. The public transport infrastructure is also well developed. different types(buses, trains, trolleybuses and trams).

Island population

The population density of the Isle of Man is 133 people per square kilometer. km. The island is inhabited by only 85,000 people, of which almost a third live in the capital of Douglas Island.

The locals of the island mainly speak English language. However, about 2% of the inhabitants continue to speak the local, almost extinct Manx language.

The Isle of Man has the oldest parliament in the world (Tynwald). Maine, although part of Great Britain, is not a member of European Union. The island is widely known as an offshore zone.

The area is attractive for fast drivers from the UK, as there is no speed limit when driving on roads outside cities and towns.

For some reason, the authorities of the island ignore the degree of risk during the races. Such a crazy event is held on public roads, though prudently closed for the duration of the competition. The speed of some riders exceeds 200 km/h. This is a very risky event, and many athletes and even spectators died during the competition.

And yet the Isle of Man is convenient for such spectacular events. Motorcycle racing takes place on the famous complex mountain track Snaefell. In addition to numerous sharp turns, it has descents and ascents from sea level to a height of 395 m. Such a difficult route is a serious test for riders and their cars.

The most prestigious type of competition is the Senior TT Race. Here, the winner is presented with a prize established by the Marquis de Mouzilli himself, which was first awarded to the winner of the first race in 1907.

The most interesting races - "Tourist Trophy" - are not official motorcycle races for safety reasons. Perhaps this is what turns these competitions into an unusual and gambling, almost wild spectacle that has no equal in the world and fascinates a huge number of people.

Motorcycle racing on the Isle of Man. Adrenalin

The Tourist Trophy rally has been held every year since 1907. It takes place on a mountain road. The length of such a route is 60.7 km. The best and most daring motorcycle racers from all over the world take part in these extreme competitions.

Isle of Man races are held in five classes: TT Superbike (750-1000 m3), TT Superstock (600-1200 m3), Supersport Junior TT (400-750 m3), Sidecar (with sidecar), Senior TT (various).

Motorcycle racers have to drive around the track for 3-6 sixty-kilometer circles, depending on the class. Moreover, no more than 85 athletes can take part in each of the classes with simultaneous participation in other types of competitions.

We can say that this is one of the most intense and extreme races in the world. Therefore, quiet and prosperous small island, where life usually passes measuredly and calmly, turns into a real wild hell. During the period of motorcycle racing, a huge number of tourists come to the Isle of Man. Racing "TT" - a very massive and exciting spectacle.

Many tourists and journalists, settling along the entire route, film and photograph all the events taking place. At the same time, a free and relaxed atmosphere reigns. People communicate, cook barbecue, drink beer.

The start is given on southeast coast Mr. Douglas. The track then goes through the northeastern town of Ramsey and turns back to the original starting point. The road is very difficult, it has more than 200 very sharp turns. Racing on the Isle of Man is the most spectacular and at the same time the most dangerous in the world. Over 220 athletes throughout centennial history races failed to cope with steep turns and died on this track.

A little history of the island

In the 19th century, the most important part of the Isle of Man's income was tourism. Its mass character was achieved in the thirties of the 18th century, when regular steamship traffic appeared. It helped connect the island with the city of Liverpool (Britain). The number of tourists grew steadily until the First World War. In connection with the war for several decades, the income of the inhabitants of the island was greatly reduced.

Everything changed only in the middle of the last century. The periods of decrease in the influx of tourists are associated with the growth of the welfare of Europeans and the development of air transportation. People have the opportunity to get to more remote and warmer resort places.

During the Second World War, British military bases (Air Forces) were located on this island. Subsequently, this place became an airport for citizens.

The saddest period in the history of the small, peaceful island is the time when it hosted internment camps. They operated during the two world wars. Citizens of countries-opponents of Great Britain and refugees from other countries were kept here. In the island camps, the conditions of detention were relatively humane. Some of them had hospitals and even theaters. In total, about 200 people died in them.

In these camps, unlike the German concentration camps, there was no cruel treatment of prisoners and their mass destruction.

History of Isle of Man TT

The very first race on the Isle of Man, the Tourist Trophy (TT), took place in May 1907. At the time, racing was modest. They soon became the largest annual event.

From 1949 to 1976, the Isle of Man TT was one of the stages of the world motorcycle racing championship. Due to the extreme danger of the route, this stage was moved after 1976 to the UK itself. Since 1977, the island has hosted the British Moto Grand Prix, run by the International Motorcycle Federation. To maintain their race status, these became integral part Formulas "TT" in 1977-1990. And since 1989, races on the island have been held under the control of the Department of Tourism of the state itself in the form of the Isle of Man TT festival.

Paradise for bitcoin - Celtic Isle of Man

Surprisingly, but tiny island Maine plans to pass legislation soon that could turn it into a real paradise for digital currencies.

It's just incredible, because in general the Isle of Man is a typical "rural" corner. With all this, in terms of the development of digital technologies, the island is literally flourishing. If you go to any coffee shop or other institution, you can see people paying with bitcoins - digital currency. Here, even official taxis accept such currency. The Isle of Man is becoming a truly digital hub.

Foreign policy of the island

The island is a British territory. In this regard, the state does not independently conduct foreign policy. Defense of the island foreign policy- British responsibility.

The island itself is not part of the European Union. At the same time, trade with the European Union takes place according to certain internal rules and EU laws. All residents of the island are British citizens. However, they are not subject to the rights of EU citizens to their free movement.

Motorcycle racing taking place on an amazing exotic island Maine is one of the most curious and spectacular, but at the same time, the most dangerous races in the world. However, this not only does not stop daredevils and extreme sports enthusiasts, but also attracts them.

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea at an equal distance from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It is a British Crown Dependency but is not part of the United Kingdom. Britain represents the interests of the island in the international arena, while Maine pursues a completely independent domestic policy. Legislative power on the island is exercised by one of the oldest parliaments in Europe - tinvald, which has been in force since 979. (Older than him is only the Icelandic Althing - 930).

The symbol of the island is the triskelion, three running legs coming out of one point. It is believed that this sign symbolizes stability.

The capital of the island is the city of Douglas. Here, such a type of transport as a horse-drawn tram has still been preserved. You can learn more about the history of the island in the Maine Museum, which is located in the capital. The National Art Gallery is also located here.

lovers ancient architecture can visit the castles of Rushen and Peel and the Abbey of Rushen. Those interested in Celtic culture will undoubtedly visit the House of Manannan, an ancient sea deity, where you can listen to ancient myths and legends and get acquainted with the life of the ancient Celts and Vikings.

There is virtually no speed limit on Maine's roads, making it very popular place among fans of fast driving, as well as convenient place for Top Gear races.

Despite the fact that the island is small and its population is not too numerous, the island has preserved a special Manx language, belonging to the Celtic group and related to the Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages. Efforts are now being made to preserve and spread the Manx language. Since 1985, it has acquired official status.

A special breed of tailless cats has been bred on the island.

Isle of Man: photos


Where is the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, 16 miles from Scotland. Its area is 588 sq. km, population - 70 thousand people.

Isle of Man on the world map

How to Get to Isle of Man

In the south of the island, about 8 miles from the capital, Douglas, is Ronaldsway Airport, which links the island with London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Glasgow. Air communication carried out daily. There are also airlines connecting the island with the Channel Islands.

Isle Of Man- Crown dependency of the British Crown. Located in the Irish Sea at about the same distance from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Area - 572 sq. km. The Isle of Man has one of the oldest parliaments in the world (Tynwald) - since 979.

In 1973 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland(UK) joined the EU along with Gibraltar. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands did not join the EU.

The symbol of the Isle of Man is the triskelion, three running legs coming out of the same point. The triskelion symbolizes stability, which is reflected in the island's motto. It is also depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the island.

Geography

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland. The island is approximately 51 km long and 13 to 25 km wide. The area of ​​the island is approximately 570 km². In the immediate vicinity of the island itself are the small islands of Cafe of Man, Chicken Rock, St. Patrick, St. Michael (English) Russian, Kitterland and St. Mary.

The highest point of the Isle of Man is Mount Snaefell (621 m).

The most long river- Salbi (18 km), the largest internal reservoir- Salbi Reservoir (0.616 km²)

Name

The exact etymology of the name of the island is unknown. In Gaelic the island was called Ellan Vannin (ellan means "island". The oldest known form of the name Maine is Manu or Mana. In his Notes on the Gallic War, Julius Caesar mentions the Isle of Man (an island that lies halfway between Britain and Ireland) under the name Mona.

Tourism

In the 19th century, tourism became the most important branch of the island's economy. Mass tourism began in the 1830s with the establishment of a regular steamship service between the island (primarily Douglas) and Liverpool. The number of tourists visiting the island grew throughout the 19th century and early 20th century. For example, if in the 1870s every year the island was visited by one hundred thousand tourists, then in 1913 the island was visited by 553,000 tourists. After that, due to the outbreak of the First World War, the number of tourists decreased, and the peak of 1913 was beaten only in 1948, but after that year the number of tourists began to decline. This is due to the gradual increase in the welfare of the population and the development of aviation, which resulted in an increase in the popularity of resorts in Southern Europe and more exotic places.

Population

According to the 2001 census, the Isle of Man has a population of 76,315, of which 25,347 live in the island's capital, Douglas. The population density is 133 people per km².

Cities - Douglas (capital), Ramsey, Castletown, Peel.

The island is part of the Diocese of Sodor and Maine of the Church of England.

  • In the 1930s, the island became famous thanks to an urban legend about a talking mongoose named Jeff
  • There is practically no speed limit on the island when driving on public roads outside cities and other settlements, which makes it very attractive to fast drivers from neighboring Great Britain.
  • From 1962 to 1965, the island produced the Peel P50, the smallest production model in the world.
  • Part of the Douglas Island capital's public transportation system is the Douglas Horse Tram, which has been in operation since 1876 to this day.
  • Isle of Man is the only British Isles a seat that has no representation in the UK Parliament.
  • A unique breed of cats without a tail was bred on the island.
  • In 1979, the Isle of Man Post issued a 13 pence stamp featuring the Manx ktyr. In 2001, another 58 pence stamp featuring this insect was issued.
  • The Isle of Man is one of the main settings of Walter Scott's novel Peveril Peak. Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby, ruler of the island in the second half of the 17th century. is also one of the main characters of the work.
  • Cremaster 4, the fourth of five films by American conceptual artist Matthew Barney, is dedicated to the Isle of Man. The film plays on the history, mythology and geography of the island, including the theme of motor racing and local folklore. Also, in another Barney film of the same cycle, "Cremaster 3", the folk legend of the origin of the island is retold.
  • The Isle of Man is one of Top Gear magazine's favorite places to do sports car comparisons, the so-called "Isle of Man Grand Prix".
  • The Isle of Man is the location (registration) of the world's largest poker room (online) PokerStars

Isle Of Man is part of the British archipelago located in the Irish Sea. It stretches for 51 km in length, and the widest land area is 25 km. The island arose as a result of the melting of glaciers about 85,000 years ago. Formally, Maine has the status of a crown possession of the British crown, which is not part of the United Kingdom, at the same time, not being its overseas territory. The Lord of Maine rules as a representative royal house Great Britain. The first settlements appeared here in the Neolithic era, and the most important historical periods in the life of the island were three periods: Celtic, Scandinavian and British. Each of them has left its mark on the culture and traditions of the islanders.

There are many in Maine historical monuments and interesting sights. The main religion of the British possession is Christianity. According to legend, Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, brought faith to these lands, and then missionaries built many small chapels here, later rebuilt, but partially preserved to this day. Total number indigenous inhabitants of the island, just over 70,000 people. However, they are all considered British citizens. Most Maine citizens speak English, although the Manx language is also used, which many parents teach their children from an early age in order to preserve the culture of the people and its long traditions.

Mass tourism began to develop here in the first half 19th century, largely due to the established maritime traffic between Maine and English Liverpool. After the outbreak of the First World War, the island's attendance decreased markedly, and reached its previous level only by the middle of the 20th century. Since then, the state has progressed and developed. New cities appeared, the level of well-being of citizens grew. Today, tourism is no longer as important for Maine as it was several decades ago due to the fact that many other exotic places attracting the British. In different directions, the island is surrounded by small areas of land, among which cafe of man, Chicken Rock, St. Patrick, Kitterland, st mary. Some of them are lighthouses, as well as buildings built in the Middle Ages, such as Peel Castle, on the island of St. Patrick, founded by the Norwegian Vikings in the XI century. According to legend, a black ghost dog lives in its walls to this day, described in detail by Walter Scott in the novel Peveril Peak. Also here are the ruins of St. Patrick's Church of about the same years of construction.

capital island nation is Douglas, which has the status of an important transport hub and economic center of the crown ownership. One third of the entire population of the island lives here. The role of the main attraction of the city is played by sea ​​port, serving dozens of freight and passenger ships from all over the UK. In addition, moorings for yachts are equipped on the coast, which are also often moored off the coast of the capital. by the most exotic view transport in the city is a horse-drawn tram. This unusual way movement began to operate on the island as early as 1876, the creator of which was a certain engineer and Sheffield - Thomas Lightfoot. The system is based on an open tram car with seats, which is harnessed by an ordinary horse. The horse follows the tram tracks and carries a wagon with passengers. The length of the only horse-tram line is a little less than 3 kilometers. Interestingly, when the animal reaches retirement age, it is taken to a “nursing home”, where they continue to take care of the four-hoofed friend of the islanders and fulfill all his senile whims. tram route the townspeople call the horse-drawn carriage, and it works only during the season, from May to September from 9 am to 7 pm. A museum is even open for tourists, where, having paid for an entrance ticket, they can take a look at the conditions for keeping horses, learn about the history of horse racing and, of course, ride along a given route. Douglas is surrounded picturesque hills from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

Hotel search

arrival date

Departure date

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Among interesting features Maine highlights some of the generally accepted laws and regulations here. Thus, the island is the only region on british archipelago without representation in the UK Parliament. There is also almost no rule of speed limits on regional highways between cities, which gives a reason to enjoy the feeling of free flight to all lovers of fast driving. Also on the island, a breed of Manx cats was bred, the main distinguishing feature of which is the absence of a tail. However, not all local cats are tailless. Some have a short stump instead of this part of the body, while others have a tail, almost of the usual length. Moreover, the absence of a tail in itself is a consequence of a natural mutation. Throughout the territory of Maine and the small islands around it, there are many historical ruins and structures of the Celtic and Scandinavian eras, which are of great interest to lovers of history and ancient artifacts.

The Isle of Man has a mild, humid and windy climate. During the warmest period of time, from June to August, average temperature the air here is only +17 degrees. The heat here is extremely rare, and the sun's rays do not spoil the islanders too much. At the same time, it is not cold at all in winter. The thermometer of the thermometer, as a rule, is limited to a mark of +5 degrees. There are almost no frosts. Rains during all 12 months are distributed evenly, and if snow falls, it melts very quickly. Maine is considered one of the most unusual and mysterious islands in the Irish Sea. The abundance of ancient buildings, a peculiar culture and beautiful natural landscapes are an integral part of this island state, fully embodying the culture and traditions of the British archipelago.