Can ' t Miss Castles
The Rock of Cashel , Ireland
The Rock of Cashel , Ireland Castles have a life span ; a spectrum of unconquerability , with “ invincible ” on one end and “ a funny collection of rocks ” on the other . The Rock of Cashel is on the back half of this timeline — the wear and tear of the centuries bringing its resilience into sharp context . First claimed by the Eóghanachta clan in the 4th century as a simple fortress atop a hill , it became the Seat of the High Kings of Munster in the 5th century ; legend has it that St . Patrick himself converted King Aengus to Christianity here . Fast forward a few centuries , and the castle was gifted to the church in 1101 . A cathedral , tower and chapel were all built in the 1200s , then sacked by English Parliamentarian troops in 1647 . Fast forward again to 1749 , and Archbishop Arthur Price removed the cathedral ’ s roof . Lightning took the cathedral ’ s high cross in 1976 . Through it all , this ebb and flow of power and history , the bones of the structure still stand atop the green rocky hill . A hefty wall surrounds the Rock ’ s perimeter , with ancient , intricate headstones popping up within the grounds like stone mushrooms . A stroll through surviving structures still provides plenty to marvel at . The chapel contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland . The Halls of the Vicars Choral feel almost haunted with the laymen ’ s chants for cathedral services . The cathedral itself seems to have taken on a new hue of spirituality , with patches of moss replacing the pop of color once reserved for the stained glass , the wide-open sky the new vaulted ceiling . There ’ s only so much left to see at the Rock of Cashel , yet you can still easily get lost among it all . And again , these are just some of the best castles we could think to recommend — the entire continent is filled with them . The best way to find fortresses worth seeing on your next European holiday is to partner up with a travel agent ; their treasure trove of regional insight and industry wisdom translates to a trip filled with hidden gems .
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