Kilkenny is situated along the River Nore and served as the religious and political center of Ireland for a period of time. Winding cobblestone streets and restored ancient buildings are the unique scenery of Kilkenny. Immigrate to Ireland, and follow the architecture of Kilkenny to experience the history of Ireland together.
1、 Kilkenny CastleKilkenny Castle
It is as famous as Edinburgh Castle, the Tower of London, and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. Kilkenny Castle is located in the center of Kilkenny city, a 15-minute walk from the train station.15minutes away. The castle was built in the12th century and later owned by the Butler family. In1971, it was sold to the government for a symbolic50pounds. Photography is not allowed inside the castle.
The Long Gallery near the riverside (Long Gallery)houses portraits of members of the Butler family from over the centuries, lined up in a row, which is quite interesting. The decorative images on the beams inside the castle, painted with Pre-Raphaelite and traditional Celtic motifs, are beautiful and mysterious. The garden behind the castle is also quite distinctive and worth a stroll. The average visit time for the castle is about1hour. The castle provides English commentary and an English brochure. It should be noted that the guidebook is only available in English, Irish, French, German, Italian, and Polish versions.
Castle opening hours:
10th month to the following2nd month 9:30-16:30;3rd month 9:30-17:00;4th month to5th month 9:30-17:30;7th month to8th month 9:00-17:30;9th month 9:30-19:30
Ticket fees:
Adults 6euros, seniors4euros, students and children over6years old2.5euros, family ticket14euros, group tickets for more than20people are4euros per person.
Garden opening hours:
1st month and12th month:9:00-16:00;2nd month and11th month:9:00-16:30;3rd month and10th month:9:00-17:30;4th month and9th month:8:30-19:00;5th month-8th month:8:30-20:30
2、 St. Canice’s Cathedral St. Canice’s Cathedral
St. Canice’s Cathedral was built in the 13th century and is the second oldest medieval cathedral in Ireland. The Gothic-style cathedral, along with the nearby round tower and ancient cemetery, forms the most evocative medieval landscape in Kilkenny. St. Canice’s Cathedral was originally built of wood and later rebuilt into a Romanesque stone cathedral in the medieval period. Outside the cathedral, there is a 102-foot-high round tower built in the 9th century that rises among a cluster of ancient tombs; this round tower is very well preserved. In the narrow, dark tower, you must climb the 167 steps using both hands and feet to reach the highest point and overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire city of Kilkenny.
Opening hours:
4th month,5th month,9th month: Monday to Saturday10:00-13:00 and14:00-17:00 Sunday14:00-17:00
6th month,7th month,8th month: Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00 Sunday13:00-18:00
10th month-the following3rd month: Monday to Saturday10:00-13:00and14:00-16:00 Sunday14:00-16:00
3、 Rothe House Rothe House
Rothe House is the only surviving early 17th-century merchant townhouse in Ireland. It consists of a townhouse and a garden. Now the house is open to the public as a museum, displaying historical artifacts collected since its establishment in 1947. The garden is a model of an early 17th-century urban garden, and it became a very popular Irish tourist attraction immediately after opening to the public in 2008.
Opening hours:
4th month-10th month: Monday to Saturday10:30-17:00 Sunday15:00-17:00;11th month-the following3rd month Monday to Saturday10:30-16:30
4、 Black Abbey Black Abbey
This is one of the oldest churches in Ireland, officially named the Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity. This Trinity Church, known as the Black Abbey, stands outside the ancient city walls of Kilkenny, where Dominican friars in black robes have been practicing their faith for over 800 years.