Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle sits at the heart of the Irish capital, occupying a site that has been a centre of power for more than eight hundred years. Originally built as a medieval fortress on the orders of King John in the early 13th century, it served as the headquarters of British administration in Ireland until 1922, when it was handed over to the new Irish Free State. Today it functions as a major Irish government complex, hosting state receptions, presidential inaugurations and EU summits.

Visitors can tour the lavish State Apartments, once the residential quarters of the British Viceroy, which include St Patrick's Hall with its painted ceiling, the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. Beneath the courtyard lie the excavated remains of the original Viking and medieval defences, including a section of the old moat and the base of the Powder Tower, accessible as part of the guided tour.

The complex also contains the striking Chapel Royal, with its elaborate Gothic Revival interior, and the Chester Beatty Library in an adjoining building, home to a renowned collection of manuscripts, prints and rare books from across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The cobbled Upper and Lower Castle Yards are open to the public and provide a quiet pocket of historic calm just off bustling Dame Street.