The city’s skyline is dominated by Kilkenny Castle, a 12th-century Norman stronghold that served as the seat of the powerful Butler family for nearly 600 years. Today, it sits amidst 50 acres of rolling parkland, open to the public for both history tours and afternoon picnics.

Connecting the castle to the other end of the city is the Medieval Mile, a trail of narrow slips (alleys), historic townhouses like Rothe House, and the imposing St. Canice’s Cathedral. If you have the stamina, climbing the 9th-century Round Tower at the cathedral provides the best panoramic view of the city’s slate roofs and winding river