Kylemore Abbey is a magnificent Benedictine monastery constructed in the Victorian Gothic style and overlooking a tranquil lake. Built in 1863 as a residence for a wealthy English politician and known initially as the Kylemore Castle, the castle was converted into an abbey in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns, who fled Belgium in the First World War. Kylemore Abbey boasts a superb picturesque lakeside setting surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and dense woodlands. The abbey includes a magnificent neo-gothic church, where the nuns lead a monastic life of dedication to prayer and work. Another feature of the monastery is the Victorian Walled Garden through which a stream runs, separating a Flower Garden and Kitchen Garden. The Visitor’s Center has several exhibits, a restaurant serving traditional Irish dishes, and a craft shop.

Kylemore Abbey Pollacappul, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland, Phone: +35-39-54-11-46

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