Dublin is a stunningly beautiful city. It's a historic city with a wonderful living past old buildings, historical landmarks, graffiti art, and memorials that can be found at every corner. One of those iconic places with a living past is none other than the famed Dublin Castle, right in the middle of the country's most-visited city.

The city is brimming with tales to be uncovered and told, many of which explore what it signifies to be Irish through a blend of ancient and contemporary.

The Dublin Castle

The center of historical Dublin is Dublin Castle. It is among Ireland's most significant structures. It was the center of the English and then British empires in Ireland from 1204 to 1922. It was primarily used as a mansion for the British emperor's Irish official, the Viceroy of Ireland, and a formal and bureaucratic center during that period.

Under the command of King John of England, the building was constructed as a medieval castle. It was built around a central courtyard with four corner towers connected by high wall panels.

The ancient Castle stood roughly on the location of the modern Upper Castle Yard and was built on high platforms originally occupied by an older Viking city. It stood mostly undamaged till April 1684, when a huge fire destroyed most of the structure.

Amidst the fire's severity, remnants of the medieval and Viking constructions survived and could still be visited today.

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The Dublin Castle Today

After the fire, the Castle was rebuilt in the late 17th and early 18th century, transforming it from a medieval stronghold to a Georgian mansion. The State Quarters were a set of elegant reception halls in the new building. These opulent rooms housed the Viceroy and were the focal point of major imperial events.

The Viceroy, and sometimes a guest British monarch, hosted several pastimes activities in the State Quarters during the early months of every year. State balls, feasts, and royal rituals for leaders of the nobility were part of the season of celebrations. The erection of the Chapel Royal in the Lower Castle Yard in the early 19th century enriched the Castle.

The noble family had a place of worship in this beautiful Gothic Revival building. It was brimming with cornerstones on the outside and abundant with artistic embellishments on the inside. It is still among Georgian Dublin's architectural attractions today.

Guided Tours Of Dublin Castle

Visitors can sign up for an intriguing tour that leads them from the Viking and medieval Dublin dig sites to the Gothic Chapel Royale and the grandeur of the restored viceregal State Quarters.

The State Apartments Tour

The State Apartments occupy the Southern Column of the Upper Square.

They were erected as the royal court's private and ceremonial quarters, the chair of the administration, and the center of the opulent social life.

Now, the Apartments host Ireland's European Union Presidency, presidential ceremonies, and other significant events.

The Viking Excavations Tour

An Underground Chamber underneath Dublin Castle is home to the Viking's Excavations.

Archaeological digs beneath the Castle have unearthed sections of the medieval Castle's foundation and the ruins of several of Viking Dublin's early defenses. These defenses took the shape of a stone-covered trench, a part of which has been conserved within the 13th-century gunpowder tower's circular fortifications.

A piece of the Castle's medieval enclosure with a postern door and a flight of steps leading down to the old moat is accessible to tourists. The River Poddle, which still runs beneath the Castle grounds, would have been channeled to build a moat that encircled it.

The Chapel Royal Tour

Francis Johnston built the Chapel Royal, a gothic revival structure. The ceiling's superb plasterwork and engraved oaks and galleries make it notable.

The coats of arms of the Justiciars, Lord Representatives, and Lord Commanders from the very first, Hugh Lacy and Fitz Alan, are particularly interesting because they occupy the last remaining space.

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Don't Skip The Museum At Dublin Castle!

The collections at Dublin Castle have been a major manifestation of art and cultural activity in Ireland and beyond ever since the late 1700s. The portfolio now includes a range of masterpieces from noble and contemporary art.

Most of the collection was established before Ireland's freedom in 1922, but there have been many notable acquisitions ever since. The artworks and fine furnishings presented to the Irish Government as part of the Granard Deed in 1973 are some of the most significant artifacts collected in the past few decades.

The Dublin Castle portfolio is relatively impressive in artworks, although it also includes statues, upholstery, clocks, porcelain, glassware, engravings, vases, and tapestries from the 1700s to the present. These intriguing, strange, and often exquisite artifacts help us learn more about the Castle's distinctive role in Irish heritage over the generations.

Visiting Dublin Castle

Via Bus

  • Nearest Bus Stop - Lord Edward Street, stop 1935, Bus stop
  • It is a 15-minute walk to the Castle from the Stop.

Via Train

  • Nearest Train Station - Dawson Tram stop
  • It is a 12-minute walk to the Castle from the station.

The Ticket Prices

  • Adults - $9
  • Children (12- 17 years) - $4
  • Children (under 12) - Free

Dublin Castle is the state's medieval centerpiece. It is a perfect destination for architecture patrons, history geeks, and castle admirers, with its spectacular structure and diverse collection of antiques dating from the 17th century to the present. Visitors come from all around the world to see Dublin Castle, some to learn more about Irish history, and others to have a glimpse of imperial life. This well-preserved Castle from the early thirteenth century is a must-see for anybody exploring Dublin.

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