For seven centuries the centre of English and later British rule in Ireland, Dublin Castle stands on a ridge in the heart of the old city, on a site fortified since Viking times. The first stone castle was built from 1204 on the orders of King John, occupying the south-eastern corner of the walled medieval town. Little of the medieval fortress survives above ground, much of it lost to a fire in 1684, and the complex seen today is largely an elegant eighteenth-century creation of courtyards, state apartments and a chapel. The surviving Record Tower is the most substantial medieval remnant, while the Chapel Royal and the richly decorated State Apartments date from the Georgian period. The castle was the seat of the viceroy and the administrative engine of British power, and its history is woven through the major events of Irish history, from rebellions and executions to the social rituals of the ruling class. In 1922, following the establishment of the Irish Free State, it was handed over to the new government in a symbolic transfer of power. Today the State Apartments are used for state occasions, including the inauguration of the president of Ireland and European summits, and they are open to visitors when not in official use. Beneath the courtyards, an excavation has revealed sections of the original Viking and Norman defences and the moat. The complex also houses the Chester Beatty, an internationally renowned library and museum of manuscripts and art from across the world, set in the castle gardens. The Dubhlinn Gardens behind the castle occupy the site of the dark pool that gave the city its name. Centrally located beside City Hall and a short walk from Temple Bar, the castle is among Dublin's most visited historic sites. Guided and self-guided tours allow visitors to take in the contrast between its medieval foundations and its grand Georgian interiors. Visitors can choose between a self-guided route through the State Apartments and a guided tour that adds the medieval undercroft and the Chapel Royal, while the Chester Beatty and the gardens are free to enter. The castle remains in use for official functions, so parts may occasionally close, and checking ahead is sensible. Its central position, beside City Hall and a short walk from Temple Bar, Christ Church and the shopping streets, makes it an easy anchor for a day exploring the historic core of the city.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 2 Palace Street, Dublin, Ireland

Telephone: +353 1 645 8800

Website: https://www.dublincastle.ie

Opening Date: 01/01/1204