Powerscourt (Powerscourt Estate and Gardens)

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Powerscourt Estate and Gardens
Date:	19/10/08 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful gardens and house

Disadvantages: None

One of the most stunning gardens in Ireland, the Powerscourt estate lies 20 miles from Dublin. The estate dates back to the thirteenth century but the magnificent Palladian mansion designed by Richard Castle was built in 1731. A tragic fire in 1974, just before the house was to open to the public, destroyed the house and its contents. Looking at pictures of the house as it was, it is poignant to think of such treasures destroyed. The interiors as they were can be seen in the film ,Barry Linden' which was filmed here in the 1970's.

The house was eventually reroofed and the double height ballroom restored as it was. The house now houses upscale interior design and clothing shops, the ballroom can be hired as a venue for weddings and functions.

More famous than the house is the gardens, the views towards the pointed sugarloaf mountain are superb. The gardens are very eighteenth century formal style. Beautiful statuary and ironwork abound and a huge set of steps lead down to the pool with its fountain.

Within the estate is the famous waterfall though I must admit it looks rather disappointing, I wasn't expecting Niagra falls but it did seem like a trickle!

Summary: Nice place for a daytrip