KILKENNY CASTLE
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.
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Members' reviews on KILKENNY CASTLE
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
Il donne une curieuse sensation d'intimité compte-tenu de sa taille.
Ne ratez pas la vidéo sur l'histoire du château avant de commencer la visite, elle vous donnera une bonne idée de ce qui a influencé son architecture et sa décoration, surtout si vous prenez une visite libre.
J'ai apprécié que la visite commence par les parties médiévales, cela donne l'impression de la réaliser dans l'ordre chronologique.
Au détour d'un salon nous avons pu croiser un guide francophone qui est un puits de connaissances sur l'histoire du pays et de la restauration de ce château qui a beaucoup souffert. N'hésitez pas à le questionner si vous le croisez :-)
Une très belle visite qui se termine de façon impressionnante dans la galerie des portraits.
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L'entrée est à 8 euros, les salles sont belles, il y'a pas mal de tableaux et de mobiliers d'époque.
On se projette comment les gens vivaient autrefois.
L'intérieur est plutôt sombre.
Le salon de thé est joliment décoré.
Les toilettes sont propres.
Le parc du château est grand, mais il n y'a pas beaucoup de fleurs.