Things to see and do Butte

Mount Stuart is a remarkable Victorian neo-Gothic palace built between 1879 and 1900. Intended for the Marquis de Bute, it succeeded a 1719 building that went up in smoke during a fire in 1877. It owes its great beauty to the architect Robert Rowand Anderson, who sought to reflect the good taste of its sponsor, a descendant of King Robert the Bruce. The interiors, as mysterious as they are refined, are in keeping with his passion for art, astrology, mythology and religion. However, he did not have time to settle there, his death having occurred just before the house was completed. With the guided tours (mid season) and the free visit (high season: July and August), visitors can enjoy its great architectural and stylistic value. It is difficult not to succumb to the elegance of the chapel, the marble staircase, the drawing room and the intriguing horoscope room. The palace is also an artistic place with contemporary art exhibitions renewed every year.

In addition to the palace, the gardens also have a high artistic value. Made to be explored, they offer many treasures in the form of arboreal and horticultural collections of world importance, with a surprising touch of tropical essences. It must be said that the Bute family was passionate about plants, and you can feel it: landscape art at its best, arboretum and pinetum (800 conifers!).

And if you fancy a snack, the Courtyard Cafe & shop will be perfect with its fresh local produce.

This small museum is a good approach to better understand this island before exploring it in depth. Its history is told since the arrival of the first men, but also its nature, its fauna and flora. Archaeological excavations, models, stuffed animals, collectibles and many more bear witness to the island's heritage and diversity. Rothesay Castle is just opposite the museum and is easily accessible. The museum exhibits objects that were found there.

This 13th century colossus is not lacking in singularity with its circular plan, its four massive towers and its high walls surrounded by water. Now partly in ruins, it was one of the residences of choice of the Stuart kings. It had an eventful fate during the Wars of Independence and the Three Kingdoms War, as it was regularly moved from one camp to another. After falling into oblivion, it underwent major restoration in the 19th century and is now open to the public. The Bute Museum, next door, also looks back on its history.

Toilets, this is a public restroom... Recommending a toilet in a guidebook is not common, but you shouldn't miss it... Between the galley and the pier, the Victorian toilets of Rothesay are more than a place of ease, a stopover that has become unmistakable and even very attractive. Opened in 1899, these toilets are a fine example of the style of the period, with their ornate ceramics and mosaics.