Let’s talk about the ridiculousness that is Kylemore Abbey, shall we? This 19th-century castle

Let’s talk about the ridiculousness that is Kylemore Abbey, shall we? This 19th-century castle-turned-Abbey in Connemara also spent decades as a school for girls. But I find its early years the most fascinating. The owner inherited loads of money and decided to build the castle in Connemara for his wife, who loved the area. And what a dramatic location it is – from here you can see Diamond Hill and several loughs. I mean, that FRONT YARD. How would that ever get old?! The place became a marvel of agriculture, engineering and decadence. The castle itself was 40,000 square feet (!) and housed 70 rooms including more than 30 bedrooms. They also built a Turkish bath in a connecting building that was bigger than most people’s houses. The castle was built so close to the hill that the walled Victorian garden had to be situated about a mile away, down a pretty forested road. The garden eventually fell into disrepair but has been brought back to life and it’s easy to imagine how impressive it must have been more than a hundred years ago. The estate’s most interesting luxury, to me, were the 4 “vineries” and 21 “glass houses” in which the garden staff grew exotic fruits like bananas, figs and nectarines. Back in the 19th century, those greenhouses were also where the ladies went to stroll around on rainy days. The buildings are mostly ruins now, but two are restored to their former glory. Sadly, the self-sufficient palatial estate was created for a woman who would only enjoy it for four years before dying of dysentery in Egypt. The estate’s gothic church and mausoleum were built for her posthumously. The estate was so over-the-top that it was too expensive even for a king – King Edward VII, to be exact, who expressed interest in buying it before suffering from sticker shock. A lot of that decadence remains in the past. Only five rooms in the Abbey are open to visitors. But the grounds are still breathtaking and exploration-worthy. With several nature trails and a few cafés, it’s a very nice place to spend an afternoon. -- source link

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