MOUNT STEWART

Very easily accessible by bus from Belfast, this particularly remarkable destination is not missed if you have time. We come mainly here to visit the gardens of property, which we owe to Lady Edith, coming to live here in 1921 with his husband, the Duke of Londonderry and (first) Minister of Education for Northern Ireland. Passionate about Botany, Literature and Art, Lady Edith made these amazing gardens where many influences are called - Spanish, Italian, Greek. The ensemble tone is hardly academic, but rather fanciful, very poetic and sometimes humorous, as with this Dodo Terrace realized for its daughter, populated with seem sculptures with strange expressions. There are also hedges carved in shape of harp or rider, small lakes and rockeries and many odorous plants, including a boardwalk of eucalyptus to delicious fragrances… Everything here is sensual, light, full of references to classical culture but in a very free way.

The house only visits a guide and you will need to take a booking ticket. A booklet with information in French is available to follow the visit. We discover what was the daily framework of the couple who received here all the political and intellectual zigzagging of the time, but also many writers and artists. A royal family, European aristocrats, diplomats and parliamentarians went there in sumptuous salons, adorned with objects from all over the world. Among the main pieces, we will see beautiful chairs embroidered, used at the Vienna Congress of 1815 and the famous painting, Hambletonian, George Stubbs (specialist of race horses that the Duke particularly cared), who throne above a large stairwell. The dimensions are such that the horse represented is almost in nature. Some visitors only go to see this world reputation table…

A final surprise of this property is the very nicely named Temple of the Winds, located at the other end of the park. This isolated summerhouse, overlooking a bay, was also the retreat of the Duke of Londonderry, who would sometimes seek peace of mind in this place open on the sea and the wind of the wide…