A great Anglo-Norman fortress steeped in history, Trim Castle is one of the must-see places in Ireland. This enclosure offers you a fabulous tour of its tower and surrounding ruins, all in a magnificent setting overlooking green valleys and the River Boyne. Don’t hesitate to discover this legendary place: you won’t be disappointed!
Trim castle – © Irina Schmidt
Château de Trim was built over 2 generations, by Hugues de Lacy and his son from 1172, and completed in 1206. Its primary function was as a center of Norman administration, responsible for the administrative area of County Meath. Henry II of England entrusted Hugues de Lacy with the onerous task of overseeing the smooth running of the center.
He arrived in County Meath in 1172, and 2 years later decided to occupy Trim Castle, a castle built of imposing stone blocks. At the time, the château had barely been completed. (Prior to this date, Trim Castle was little more than a fortified wooden camp).
Over the centuries, the castle passed through the hands of various owners, including the Wellington family, the Leslies de Glasough family, the Plunketts and then the Barons of Dunsany, who continued to own the castle until the end of the 20th century. In 1993, Lord Dunsany decided to cede the castle and grounds to the Irish state, subject to a fishing right on the River Boyne.
It was at this point that the Irish government decided to launch a major restoration campaign at the castle, consisting of renovating the fort and carrying out a number of archaeological digs in order to uncover vestiges of Anglo-Norman civilization in the medieval period.
With its imposing architecture, covering over 30,000m², the château impresses with its size and Norman architecture… It is situated on a slightly elevated site, offering an unobstructed view of the Boyne River.
The enclosure consists of a three-storey tower surrounded by 13th-century ramparts, now in ruins. The tower’s architecture is quite unusual, with 20 distinct sides, a moat and a curtain wall. At the time, the building housed bedrooms, dining rooms and a place of religious worship.
The entire tower was then protected by 5 turrets arranged all around the fortress, to protect the enclosure and its surrounding buildings, which were also enclosed by the fort’s ramparts. Some of its ramparts, however, have been completely destroyed on the Boyne bank side. Inside, near the tower, a number of buildings dating from the same period can be found, including :
All of these buildings feature architectural elements that are sometimes unusual and never seen on other medieval sites.
Trim Castle is open to the public, but admission is charged. If you’re in a group, don’t hesitate to call ahead to reserve your seats.
A guided tour of the fortress takes around 45 minutes. However, we also recommend that you venture outside the walls to discover the last vestiges of the Norman era, without a guide, in a fabulous setting along the Boyne river.
Beware, however, for those with mobility difficulties: some of the fort’s passages are steep (especially in the 3-storey tower, which has a rather challenging staircase).
However, we deplore the recent construction of a large hotel close to the château, which has somewhat distorted the landscape and the charm of the building…
Parking is available all year round.
Surprising as it may be, Trim Castle was used as a location for the film Braveheart. True, the film tells the tale of a historical epic that took place in Scotland, but it was here in County Meath that some of the film’s cult scenes were shot!
Mel Gibson and Sophie Marceau have been lucky enough to find themselves here. Adding even more interest to the site!
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4.00/5 (2 votes)
