Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Museum · Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Rothe House
Merchant's house from 1594 on Parliament Street, with three buildings around courtyards, period rooms, a collection of city objects and a recreated 17th-century garden at the back.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Rothe House
Rothe House was built from 1594 by John Rothe Fitz-Piers, a wealthy Kilkenny merchant, on Parliament Street. It is the most complete example of a 16th- and 17th-century merchant house in Ireland: three stone buildings in sequence, linked by two inner courtyards, with the shop at the front, the family home in the middle and the kitchen and service rooms at the back.
The Rothe family lost the property after the 17th-century wars for supporting the Confederation of Kilkenny. The house had various uses until it was bought in 1962 by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, which restored it and maintains it as a museum.
The visit goes through the furnished rooms, with the large first-floor hall, the kitchen and a collection of objects from Kilkenny's history, from archaeological finds to clothing and documents. Upstairs there is also a county genealogy centre.
At the back, the garden was recreated based on 17th-century records, with a vegetable patch, herbs, fruit trees and an orchard, as it would have been in the Rothe period. It is a peaceful corner in the middle of the centre.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
45 minutes to 1 hour, including the garden.
Best time
By day, at any time of year; the garden is most attractive from spring to autumn. Check opening days, which change by season.
How to get there
It is on Parliament Street in central Kilkenny, between the Medieval Mile Museum and St Canice Cathedral, a 10-minute walk from the castle.
Tip
Don't skip the rear garden, which many visitors miss. Notice the windows and arches on the façade, as they were in 1594.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Rothe House
Who built Rothe House?
The merchant John Rothe Fitz-Piers, from 1594. The house was enlarged by the family in the following decades.
What is the garden of Rothe House?
A 17th-century garden recreated at the back of the house, with a vegetable plot, herbs and an orchard, based on period records.
Who cares for the house?
The Kilkenny Archaeological Society, which bought it in 1962 and maintains it as a museum.