Rathfarnham Castle
Elizabethan fortified house in south Dublin, remodelled in the 18th century, with period rooms, guided tours and a tearoom.
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Over het museum
Rathfarnham Castle was built in the 1580s for Adam Loftus, an English-born clergyman who became Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. It is a good example of an Elizabethan fortified house, with four flanker towers at the corners. Musket loops in the towers allowed defenders to cover every approach to the building, and some are still visible.
In the late 18th century the castle was remodelled on a lavish scale as a fashionable country villa. Designs for several rooms are credited to Sir William Chambers and James “Athenian” Stuart, including the Ballroom, the Gilt Room and the Four Seasons Room. The collection includes family portraits by Angelica Kauffman, Sir Peter Lely and Hugh Douglas Hamilton.
The Society of Jesus acquired the castle in the early 20th century and used it as a retreat house and residence until the 1980s. It was then declared a National Monument and bought by the Irish State. The Office of Public Works runs it today, and restoration work that began in the 1990s is still continuing. The castle also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events.
Hoogtepunten
- Elizabethan fortified house with four flanker towers
- Ballroom, Gilt Room and Four Seasons Room from the 18th-century remodelling
- Family portraits by Kauffman, Lely and Hamilton
- Guided tours or self-guided visit of the historic rooms
- Tearoom and playground on the grounds
Vaste collectie
- Historic rooms and collection – The tour covers restored 18th-century rooms such as the Ballroom, the Gilt Room and the Four Seasons Room, with period furniture and family portraits.
- Beheerder
- Office of Public Works (OPW)
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | € 5 |
|---|---|
| Kinderen & jongeren | € 3Child and student rate. |
| Senioren | € 4The same rate applies to groups. |
| Studenten | € 3 |
| Groepen | € 4 p.p. |
| Gezinnen | € 13 |
Gratis toegang: First Wednesday of each month for individual visitors and families (Free Wednesday scheme); not for organised groups.
Free Wednesday tickets are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked online.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
- Lift
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
A lift and a wheelchair-accessible toilet are listed. Visitors who need step-free access to the tour route should contact the castle before visiting. Assistance dogs are allowed; other dogs must be on a lead.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Gezinsticket | € 13 |
|---|
- Verschoonruimte
- Speeltuin / speelhoek
A playground and baby changing are available, and a family ticket is offered.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Dublin Bus routes 16 and 15B serve Rathfarnham from the city centre.
Met de auto
Parkeerplaats aanwezig
Heritage Ireland lists a car park, coach parking and bicycle parking; tourism listings describe the car parking as paid.
The castle is in Rathfarnham village in south Dublin.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
The Stuart and Chambers Tearooms serve snacks and meals in the historic building. Phone and internet connection at the castle is currently unavailable.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
Heritage Ireland lists the castle as an events venue.
Je bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja |
|---|---|
| Goed om te weten | Guided tours are available, and group tours must be booked in advance by phone or email. Visitors can also explore the historic rooms at their own pace. |
