Castle Leslie, Victorian estate in Glaslough, Ireland
Castle Leslie is a large estate in Glaslough built in Scottish baronial style in 1871, surrounded by three lakes and ancient woodlands. The property spans around a thousand acres and now operates as a hotel with accommodations in the main castle, a separate lodge building, and converted stables.
The Leslie family acquired the estate in 1665 when Bishop John Leslie purchased Glaslough Castle and established their Irish residence there. The main building underwent a major redesign in the 19th century, transforming it into the Victorian structure visitors see today.
The estate keeps alive traditional Irish ways through its kitchen and horse riding programs, with rooms still showing original Victorian architectural touches. You can see how these historical elements remain woven into the daily life of the place.
The estate sits about an hour and a half from Dublin and one hour from Belfast by car, making it accessible from either city. The grounds are well-marked and mostly flat, making them straightforward to walk around.
At the rear of the estate stands a Renaissance-style cloister that echoes Michelangelo's design from Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome. This surprising architectural reference reveals the Leslie family's cultural connections to southern European artistic traditions.
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