Powerscourt, Ireland

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Powerscourt castle and its amazing park are a great halfday-trip from Dublin.
Unfortunately the castle had burned out some time ago and you will actually just see the fassade, but the garden is still a beautiful sight.
The famous mountain in the back of my 2nd photograph is called " Sugar Loaf " and it is one of the typical landmarks of the area south of Dublin. The best view on the "Sugar Loaf" is certainly from the terrace of Powerscourt castle.
When you arrive by car, there will be an entrance fee for the whole park, including the castle. You may drive inside the park , and park your car between large alley-trees. Then you may take a walk and spend the whole day in the lovely surroundings of Powerscourt castle.
About my 3rd photograph : The Earl of Powerscourt was a well known traveller himself, interested in gardens and travelling, and when he saw this wonderful entrance-gate in the german town of Bamberg, he simply bought it and shiped it to Ireland - that was certainly quite an adventure at that time !
Click on my picture and take a closer look at the wonderful fake perspective in the centre of the Bamberg-gate. The iron-work of the gate was made in Vienna in 1770 for the cathedral in Bamberg.
Not far from this gate you may see a cemetery, where the dogs and cats and even horses and cows of the castle-owners were buried !

We spent a day wandering the mountains near Dublin, and visited Powerscourt Falls. There is a picnic ground, walking paths, and more of the beauty of Ireland.

This area was used for a couple of movies including Excalibur and Henry V. The river Dargle drops close to 400 feet to reach the base of the cliff, making this sight the tallest waterfall in Ireland. The base of the falls has a metallic hue, perhaps a source for the legend of the gifts of Leprachauns :)

I felt like a child again as I climbed the rocks, wandered the paths, and just enjoyed the green and water .........

An old estate with beautiful gardens and a burned mansion. The traditional gardens were great fun for a little kid to run through.

Through the windows of the house you could see ivy growing over the singed wallpaper, wallpaper that was decorated with pictures of ivy. Nature reclaiming its own.

I've heard that its been comercialized and that the house no longer sits in its natureal destruction. Too bad, it was interesting.

More than 100 high and therefore the highest in Britain and Ireland. Needless to say Powerscourt Waterfall is a must see. There are very good hiking trails all over the valley that lead all the way to the top of the waterfall. Careful though, it's slippery when wet!

This grand estate in county Wicklow is but a short drive away from Dublin but already far enough to enjoy nothing but frsh air and beautiful vistas. The mansion featured in films such as "Barry Lindon" and "Far and Away" and although it was destroyed by fire in the late 20th century, it has ben extensively restored and fitted with shops.

The highlight of the site, though, are the gardens. They overlook the Wicklow Mountains are bautifully laid out in terraces. It's all magnificent and gradiose, so be sure to wander around and get a whiff of what high society life must have been in the olde days.

Beautiful Gardens to explore.
I found the Japanese garden to be the most beautiful.
Don't miss the pet cemetery- it's a little out of the way. My guide book said cats, dogs and even cattle and horses buried here. Didn't see any cat markers though...And a suspiciously high number of pets from the same kid died suddenly....hmm.....

Powerscourt is claimed to be the most beautiful castle in whole Ireland and I have anything against this description. Beautiful gardens with different themes (japanese etc.) where you can promenade. Restaurant and shops, quite touristic.

Powerscourt House, a Palladian mansion dating from 1730, now incorporates Specialty Shops, Terrace Cafe, Interiors Gallery, House Exhibition and Garden Pavilion. However, the famous Powerscourt Gardens with mixture of mid-Victorian and an earlier European classical gardens with Great Sugarloaf Mountain as the backdrop, have plentiful of diversity, such as neat walled gardens, Italian & Japanese garden, Tower Valley, Winged Horses, Triton Lake, Pets Cemetery, Dolphin Pond, and Bamberg Gate.