Buildings in Inverness include Inverness Castle and numerousnumerous adj.众多的， 许多的， 无数的 churches， including St. Andrew，s Cathedral. However， the oldest church is the Old High Church， on St. Michael，s Mount by the riverside， a site perhaps used for worship since Celtic times. The castle was built on the site of a previous building in 1835 and is now a Sheriff Court； an older wooden castle was located further east in the 11th century， and may have been the basis for the castle in Shakespeare，s MacbethMacbeth n.麦克白（莎士比亚悲剧《麦克白》主人公）. St. Andrew，s Cathedral has a curiously squaretopped look to its spires， as funds ran out before they could be completed.
Islands in the River Ness， the Bught and the river banks form a pleasant series of walks， as do the forested hills of Craig Phadraig and Craig Dunain. The city is well served with shops， as it is the main shopping centre for an area of nearly 26，000 sq km.
Inverness was granted city status by the Queen in December 2000， and celebrated its new status officially in March 2001. In 2001， the population of Inverness was 51，000. Tourism is important to the city，s economy， as are retailingretailing n.零售业， administration and healthcare. Most of the traditional industries such as distilling have been replaced by hightech businesses， including the design and manufacture of diabetesdiabetes n.［医］ 糖尿病， 多尿症 diagnostic kits. The city is also home to the football clubs Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. and Clachnacuddin F.C.. Bught Park， located in the centre of Inverness is the Finishing point of the annual Loch Ness marathon.
Inverness is linked to the Black Isle across the Moray Firth by the Kessock Bridge. It has a railway station with services to Perth， Edinburgh， Glasgow and London， to Aberdeen， to Thurso and Wick， and to Kyle of Lochalsh. Inverness Airport is located 15 km east of the city and has scheduledscheduled adj.预定的 flights to airports across the U.K. including London， Edinburgh and the islands to the north and west of Scotland.
Culloden Moor lies nearby， and was the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746， which ended the Jacobite Rising of 1745～1746.
Inverness also serves as somewhat of a Mecca for lovers and players of the bagpipes. Every September the city hosts the Northern Meeting， the most prestigiousprestigious adj.享有声望的， 声望很高的 solo pipingpiping n.吹笛， 笛声， 尖声， 管道系统 adj.吹笛的， 尖音的， 平静的 adv.滚烫的 competition in the world. The Inverness Cape， a garment worn by pipers in the rain， is actually made by a man in Glasgow.
Inverness is the gateway to the countless scenic and environmental delights of the Highlands of Scotland with a host of places to visit. Towering mountains， dark lochs， great forests and precipitousprecipitous adj.陡峭的， 急躁的 sea cliffs， are all within easy reach.
Of particular note is the legendary Loch Ness which is surrounded by some truly breathtaking scenery， although most visitors are usually are on the look out for something a bit more mysteriousmysterious adj.神秘的. The ruins of Urquhart Castle provide an atmospheric monsterhunting spot but Drumnadrochit with its two local exhibitions， Fort Augustus， the busy village at the southern end of Loch Ness， and Foyers with its famous falls are all worth a visit.
West of Inverness， Beauly is an historic village with the ruins of the 13th century Priory at its heart and a new Beauly Centre with connections to local Clans including the Frasers and Chisholms. Close by are a number of beautiful glens notably Strathfarrar and Glen Affric-one of the best places to see remnantsremnant n.残余， 剩余， 零料， 残迹 adj.剩余的， 残留的 of the ancient Caledonian pine forest that once covered much of Scotland.
To the East lies the town of Nairn， famous for its golf courses and venue for the 1999 Walker Cup. Nairn Beach is also one of the best beaches on the Moray Firth and local sites such as Fort George and Cawdor Castle help provide fun for all the family.
