St. Canices Cathedral and Round Tower

St. Canices Cathedral and Round Tower was founded in the 6th century, and has plenty of history to discover, using a great self guided tour that is easy to follow and full of fascinating information.

The excellent self guide leaflet is available at reception and will tell you all about the history and different architectural features of the cathedral, including the lovely stained glass windows, the organ, the font, tombstone carvings and much more.

There is a brilliant miniature scale model of Kilkenny as it would have been in the mid 1600s, with a lot of features that can still be recognised in the city today. It's a marvellous support for academic interests but also a fascinating study for the casual visitor too.

Anyone over 12 years old who has a head for heights, should take the opportunity to climb the 100ft (30m) round tower, via a series of internal ladders and 121 steps in total! Your efforts will be rewarded by an amazing view from the top of the tower of the city and surrounding landscape. Tower opening is dependant on weather and staff availability so maybe don't mention it until you're there and know you can do it!

It's worth noting that a combination ticket for an adult covers entry to the cathedral and round tower, while a family ticket covers entry to the cathedral and round tower for 2 adults and up to 3 children aged over 12 and under 18, so it's well worth bringing everyone and catching a bargain.