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Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

Anyone who has ever dreamed of living in a wilderness castle will enjoy a visit to Kylemore Abbey. Built of immaculate white stone, Kylemore Abbey is a majestic castle sitting on the edge of Kylemore Lake with the hills of Connemara looming in the backdrop.

Built as a lodge and castle by Mitchell Henry and finished in 1871, the Kylemore Castle changed hands several times before being bought by the Benedictine Nuns in 1920. Today Kylemore Abbey remains a working abbey and the nuns retain a private section of the building for their quarters and devotions. Kylemore Abbey also houses a boarding school for girls, although it is in the process of closing.

Although the abbey itself is spectacular, the grounds also hold many places of interest. The Gothic Church is a miniature model of a Gothic cathedral which was built in the 1878 by Mitchell Henry as a memorial to his wife. The recently re-opened Victorian Walled Garden is also a popular attraction for visitors. Located about one mile from the Abbey itself, the garden is accessible by a shuttle bus. The gardens have been restored to recreate a late Victorian style. They contain a kitchen garden of vegetables and herbs as well as a flower garden with carefully shaped flower beds. There are also several hothouses for more exotic plants.

Because it is such a popular tourist destination, Kylemore Abbey contains a Visitor Center which houses the (excellent) restaurant and a very large gift shop. The Kylemore Abbey Visitor Center, Abbey and Church are open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the summer months, the Victorian Walled Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.