Castles to visit Leinster

Stacked since the twelfth century, the beautiful gray stones of Kilkenny's vast castle draw a wide open U-shaped river. The castle was greatly modified in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Purchased by the powerful Butler family in 1391, he remained in the hands of their descendants until 1935.

We will stop at a long time in the so-called portrait gallery room, a long piece of 45 meters which ends on a triple Gothic window. The wooden ceiling will take your attention. It is painted in a prjorhaelite style (xixe), as shown by young women languishing on arches whose media ends at the head of animals (game and hawks) carved and gilded.

A glass, unusual and architecturally audacious, gives the room rare clarity, a free luminosity. Carrara marble fireplace is engraved with seven bas-reliefs illustrating the history of the Butler family (whose French motto was «As I find»). The Butlers held their fortune from their privileged situation of official «tasters», in charge of savoring the royal cup of wine first (and, as you can imagine, the advantages attached to it…).

The castle also houses the Butler Gallery, one of the most important art galleries outside Dublin. This contemporary art gallery program shows its exhibitions independently. Finally, the huge park around the castle will be the occasion for a pleasant walk or picnic. In summer it is open until 8:30 p. m.

Grand Tower of the th century overlooking the village. It was thought to be built by the knights of the order of the Hospital of Saint John, founded in Jerusalem before the first crusade.