Blarney Castle - Ireland

One day will go back to Ireland just to visit castles. Who wants to join me? 

If you google on the most famous and most visited castles in Ireland, Blarney Castle will definitely be one of them.

These cards were sent by Claudia and Anne-Sophie.

Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland. The castle originally dates from before 1200. It was destroyed in 1446, but subsequently rebuilt by Cormac MacCarthy, the King of Munster.

The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. 

Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. There are many versions of the origin of the stone, including a claim that it was the Lia Fáil — a numinous stone upon which Irish kings were crowned. 

 

Photography reproduced from the original artistic work © Liam Blake

Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens. There are paths touring the grounds with signs pointing out the various attractions such as several natural rock formations with fanciful names such as Druid's Circle, Witch's Cave and the Wishing Steps. The grounds include a poison garden with numerous poisonous plants, including wolfsbane, mandrake, ricin and opium, as well as cannabis.  - in: wikipedia