Dublin Castle, Dublin, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Dublin Castle is a complex of medieval and Georgian buildings on Dame Street in Dublin, and for centuries it was the seat of English and then British rule in Ireland. Today it is a state venue where Irish presidents are inaugurated, and visitors can explore its courtyards, gardens and State Apartments.

The story behind it

The castle stands where the River Poddle once met the Liffey, forming the dark tidal pool that gave Dublin its name, from the Irish Dubh Linn. In the early 13th century King John ordered a stone fortress to be built here, and it served as both a defensive stronghold and the centre of government for the English crown in Ireland.

Much of the medieval castle was lost, especially after a major fire in 1684, and the site was rebuilt in the following century in the Georgian style you see in the Upper Yard. The Record Tower is the best preserved reminder of the medieval fortress. In 1907 the Irish Crown Jewels vanished from the castle and were never recovered. In January 1922 the castle was handed over to the new Irish government, ending its long role as the heart of British administration.

What to look for

• The Record Tower, a round stone tower that is the best surviving piece of the medieval castle.
• The Chapel Royal, a Gothic Revival chapel completed in the early 19th century, with many carved stone heads on its exterior.
• The elegant Georgian ranges around the Upper Yard, which look very different from the fortress that came before them.
• The Dubh Linn Garden behind the castle, which lies over the site of the dark pool that named the city.

Tips for your visit

• Allow one to two hours if you want to see the courtyards, the gardens and the State Apartments, and longer if you add a guided tour.
• The State Apartments and some other areas can close for official events, so check current opening hours and access before you go.
• The Chester Beatty Library sits within the castle grounds, so it is easy to combine the two.
• City Hall, Temple Bar, Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral are all a short walk away, which makes the castle a good anchor for a half-day on foot.

Explore it on a quest

Dublin Castle sits in the middle of some of the oldest streets in the city, and it is more rewarding when you see it as one stop in a longer walk. Questo runs self-guided quests on your phone: the app leads you from place to place, tells you about each one as you arrive, and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. Browse the quests in Dublin to find a route through the area, with no guide and no group to join.