Ireland: Rock of Cashel Castle
Rock of Cashel is the most famous site and castle in Ireland. The rock itself is a mountain outcrop rising high above the surrounding landscape, and on top of the rock sits a fortress that had served as the seat for the kings of Munster, until the Norman invasion. According to local legend, it was here that St. Patrick baptized King Aenghus in the 5th century, effectively converting the ruling class of Munster to Christianity. In 1647, during the Irish Confederate Wars, the Rock of Cashel was stormed by English Parliamentary forces many of the site’s religious artifacts were destroyed or looted. The complex contains a structures dating from the 12-15th centuries – Round Tower, Cathedral, Cormac’s Chapel, and more. And the views of the surrounding countryside is a perfect 360 degree panorama.
