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Fort William ((スコットランド・ゲール語:An Gearasdan) (:ən ˈkʲɛrəs̪t̪ən) "The Garrison") is the second largest settlement in the Highlands of Scotland with around 10,000 inhabitants — and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger. Fort William is a major tourist centre, with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles. It is a centre for hillwalking and climbing due to its proximity to Ben Nevis and many other Munro mountains. It is also known for its nearby downhill mountain bike track. It is the start/end of both the West Highland Way (Milngavie-Fort William) and the Great Glen Way (a walk/cycle way Fort William-Inverness). Around 726 people (7.33% of the population) can speak Gaelic. ==Etymology== Questions over the town's English name are various. The post-Reformation fort was named ''Fort William'' after William of Orange, and the settlement that grew around it was called ''Maryburgh'', after his wife. This settlement was later renamed ''Gordonsburgh'', and then ''Duncansburgh'' before being renamed ''Fort William'', this time after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland; known to some Scots as "Butcher Cumberland". Given these origins, there have been various suggestions over the years to rename the town (for example, to ''Invernevis''). These proposals have led to nothing yet. Questions over the town's Gaelic name are equally interesting. The Gaelic name for the town is ''An Gearasdan'', and this is the result of a transliteration from the French term Garrison. French loan-words in the Gaelic language are very rare, and can only correspond with specific times in Scottish history: during David I's politically pacifying introduction of a Norman aristocracy in Scotland after the Norman conquest of England, and the period covering the Auld Alliance. The most likely derivation for the town's Franco-Gaelic name is from the Scoto-Norman Clan Comyn, who built Inverlochy Castle in the Norman style that is familiar throughout Scotland during this period. French loan-words that take root during the Auld Alliance are far more common in the Scots language than in Gaelic. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fort William, Highland」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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