St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (must see)
Saint Patrick鈥檚 Cathedral 鈥� Dublin鈥檚 oldest and tallest church, and possibly the only place where getting baptized by a saint, attending university, and stabling your horse all happened under the same roof...
Legend has it that Saint Patrick himself once dunked a few converts right here 鈥� a Celtic cross in the nave marks the alleged holy splash zone, dating things back to around 450 AD. Outside, there鈥檚 a peaceful park and a marker showing where the Holy Well once was 鈥� a perfect spot for pondering ancient blessings or just enjoying your sandwich...
Inside, the cathedral stretches an impressive 90 meters long, making it the longest church in Ireland 鈥� and tall too, with a 45-meter tower that houses the country鈥檚 largest peal of bells. Keep your ears ready and your neck limber. Above the choir stalls, look up to see carved helmets and swords 鈥� because sometimes "divine inspiration" can arrive amid medieval battle accessories.
Most of what you see today isn鈥檛 from the original 1191 structure, though. A fire in the 14th century did a number on it, and later restorations 鈥� especially in the Victorian era 鈥� gave it the grandeur we see now, minus the medieval draft...
This place has worn many hats over the centuries. In 1320, it was home to Ireland鈥檚 first university. Later, under Cromwell, it became an impromptu barracks 鈥� complete with equestrian parking in the aisles. But one of its most famous residents was Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver鈥檚 Travels, who served as dean from 1713 to 1745. Known for his razor-sharp wit and concern for Dublin鈥檚 poor, Swift is buried here alongside Esther Johnson (otherwise known as "Stella," an Englishwoman and a close friend of Swift's). His pulpit and self-penned epitaph are still on display here, just in case you鈥檇 like to hear from the man himself, posthumously...
And then there's the door. Not just any door 鈥� but the door. A medieval peace treaty carved in wood. During a 1492 siege, Lord Kildare literally "chanced his arm" by cutting a hole in a door and reaching through to shake hands with his enemy. A bold move, and the source of a phrase still alive and kicking today.
Quick tip:
Check the cathedral鈥檚 website for upcoming concerts or events 鈥� because if you鈥檙e going to soak in history, you might as well do it with a choir echoing around you.
Legend has it that Saint Patrick himself once dunked a few converts right here 鈥� a Celtic cross in the nave marks the alleged holy splash zone, dating things back to around 450 AD. Outside, there鈥檚 a peaceful park and a marker showing where the Holy Well once was 鈥� a perfect spot for pondering ancient blessings or just enjoying your sandwich...
Inside, the cathedral stretches an impressive 90 meters long, making it the longest church in Ireland 鈥� and tall too, with a 45-meter tower that houses the country鈥檚 largest peal of bells. Keep your ears ready and your neck limber. Above the choir stalls, look up to see carved helmets and swords 鈥� because sometimes "divine inspiration" can arrive amid medieval battle accessories.
Most of what you see today isn鈥檛 from the original 1191 structure, though. A fire in the 14th century did a number on it, and later restorations 鈥� especially in the Victorian era 鈥� gave it the grandeur we see now, minus the medieval draft...
This place has worn many hats over the centuries. In 1320, it was home to Ireland鈥檚 first university. Later, under Cromwell, it became an impromptu barracks 鈥� complete with equestrian parking in the aisles. But one of its most famous residents was Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver鈥檚 Travels, who served as dean from 1713 to 1745. Known for his razor-sharp wit and concern for Dublin鈥檚 poor, Swift is buried here alongside Esther Johnson (otherwise known as "Stella," an Englishwoman and a close friend of Swift's). His pulpit and self-penned epitaph are still on display here, just in case you鈥檇 like to hear from the man himself, posthumously...
And then there's the door. Not just any door 鈥� but the door. A medieval peace treaty carved in wood. During a 1492 siege, Lord Kildare literally "chanced his arm" by cutting a hole in a door and reaching through to shake hands with his enemy. A bold move, and the source of a phrase still alive and kicking today.
Quick tip:
Check the cathedral鈥檚 website for upcoming concerts or events 鈥� because if you鈥檙e going to soak in history, you might as well do it with a choir echoing around you.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dublin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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St. Patrick's Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Dublin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Dublin Literary Pubs
The three Ps of Dublin 鈥� the pub, the poet, and the pint 鈥� have always distinguished the Irish capital as home to some of the most literary pubs in Europe. Indeed, Dublin's public houses, where writers traditionally sharpened their wit, today encapsulate the enchantment of the written word and play a significant role in preserving and celebrating this legacy.
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Among these revered... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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