Swiss Cottage, Cottage orné in Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland
Swiss Cottage is a cottage orné in Cahir with a T-shaped layout, wooden verandas on multiple sides, and an ornate thatched roof. The building combines English architectural details with romantic elements typical of country estates from the early nineteenth century.
Built around 1812 for Richard Butler, first Earl of Glengall, this cottage was designed by English architect John Nash as an ornamental retreat. Nash created it as part of the Cahir estate during the Regency era, when wealthy landowners favored such picturesque hideaways.
The interior walls display original wallpapers from the Dufour factory in Paris, showing how wealthy families of that era decorated their homes with imported luxury goods. These coverings reveal the taste and connections of the household to fashionable European design.
The cottage opens to visitors from March through October with guided tours running at regular intervals throughout the day. It is wise to check ahead as opening hours may vary depending on the season and daily schedules.
The cottage contains a hidden tunnel entrance within its structure, suggesting it may have served as a secret location for private meetings in the nineteenth century. This concealed passage adds to the mystery surrounding the original purposes of the estate.
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