is in Scotland. It has a population of around 156,000 and covers approximately 30,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Clackmannanshire, Fife, North Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Lothian
The unitary authority council area of Falkirk (called An Eaglais Bhreac in Scottish Gaelic) was created in 1996 and is located in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Falkirk is the main town in the council area and is situated within easy travelling distance of the nearby cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Forth and Clyde and Union Canals made the area an important centre of the industrial revolution in Scotland, though with the loss of much heavy industry during the late 20th century the area has grown more dependent on the service sector and tourism. The 19th century Falkirk Steeple is an important landmark in the town and since being built in 2002, the Falkirk Wheel has become a popular tourist attraction. It is the only rotating boat lift in the world and was built to reconnect the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal, which until the early 20th century used locks to enable boats to travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The well known artist Elizabeth Blackadder was born in Falkirk in 1931 and her paintings have been shown in major galleries including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the Tate Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Callendar House is a popular visitor attraction in Falkirk and was built in a French Renaissance chateau style during the 19th century, around a structure dating back to the 14th century. Over the centuries famous visitors to the mansion have included Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria and today Callendar House is managed by the Falkirk Community Trust. The fine Georgian interiors have been restored and the historic house museum includes a period kitchen and drawing rooms. Along with staff wearing period costumes and a range of historic exhibits, they help to recreate the history of the house and the local area. The Park Gallery hosts exhibitions of contemporary arts and crafts, made by artists from Scotland and other countries, as well as running arts and crafts workshops. The house is set within Callendar Park, within which are remains of part of the Antonine Wall that was constructed of stone and turf across central Scotland by the Romans during the 2nd century AD. The landscape design of Callendar Park is of national importance and as well as activities such as crazy golf and a boating lake, the park hosts a range of events.