Belvedere House and Gardens, Georgian country house near Mullingar, Ireland

Belvedere House is a two-storey, three-bay Palladian house built in 1740 to designs by Richard Cassels on the north-east shore of Lough Ennell, 8 km from Mullingar. Its middle bay is recessed, and its Diocletian windows and 19th-century terracing are its noted features. Inside are Rococo plasterwork ceilings by the French stuccatore Barthelemij Cramillion.

Built in 1740 by Richard Cassels as a hunting lodge for Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere, it became his main residence after he had his wife confined at Gaulstown over an alleged affair with his brother Arthur. Arthur was fined £20,000, could not pay, and spent 18 years in a Dublin debtors' prison until Robert's death in 1774. Charles Brinsley Marlay later added the upper Diocletian windows and terracing, and Westmeath County Council bought the estate in 1982 for £250,000.

The rooms display ornate plasterwork on the ceilings crafted by French artisans in the 18th century. These decorative details remain central to how visitors experience the interior spaces.

The grounds are open throughout the year with parking available for visitors and an on-site restaurant. Explore the paths at your own pace or join a guided tour to learn more about the property's history.

The Jealous Wall, Ireland's largest folly, was built by Robert Rochfort to block the view of his estranged brother George's house at Tudenham. It is a deliberate spite wall, not a ruin, and stands as a monument to a family feud.