MOUNT STUART

Mount Stuart is a remarkable neo-Gothic Victorian palace built between 1879 and 1900. Destined for the Marquis of Bute, it succeeded a 1719 building that burned down in 1877. It owes its great beauty to architect Robert Rowand Anderson, who sought to reflect the good taste of his patron, a descendant of King Robert the Bruce. The interiors are as mysterious as they are refined, in keeping with Anderson's passion for art, astrology, mythology and religion. However, he didn't have time to settle in, dying just before the house was completed. With guided tours (mid-season) and self-guided tours (high season: July and August), visitors can enjoy its great architectural and stylistic value. It's hard 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 venue, 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 numerous treasures in the form of world-class arboricultural and horticultural collections, with a surprising touch of tropical essences. It has to be said that the Bute family was passionate about plants, and it shows: landscape art at its best, arboretum and pinetum (800 conifers!).

And if you're in the mood for a snack, the Courtyard Cafe & shop will be perfect, with its fresh, local produce.