Powerscourt Gardens

Explore the Garden of Ireland

Powerscourt Gardens in County Wicklow is one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland! The gardens at Powerscourt were laid out over two main periods. Many of the people involved in their creation and development never saw the gardens completed in their lifetime. When the house was rebuilt in the decade after 1731, the surrounding grounds were also remodelled. The design reflected the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider landscape. And what a view it is! To the north formal tree plantations framed the vista from the house, while a walled garden, fish pond, cascades, grottos and terraces lay to the south. Walks wound through the wooded grounds and a fine tree lined avenue was created. When you arrive at the tree lined avenue today, hundreds of beech trees will guide your visit.

One of Ireland's leading architects

A century later the 6th Viscount Powerscourt instructed his architect, Daniel Robertson, to draw up new schemes for the gardens. Robertson was one of the leading proponents of Italianate garden design which was influenced by the terraces and formal features of Italian Renaissance villas and perfected in gardens in France and Germany. Robertson designed the terrace nearest the house. He is said to have suffered from gout and directed operations from a wheelbarrow, fortified by a bottle of sherry. When the sherry was finished, work ceased for the day!

The Development of the Gardens

The death of the 6th Viscount in 1844 meant that alterations to the gardens ceased until his son resumed the work in the late 1850s. Using a combination of Robertson's designs and the plans of the other landscape experts, the terraces were completed, enormous numbers and varieties of trees were planted and the ground adorned with an amazing collection of statuary, ironwork and other decorative items. By the time of his death in 1904, the 7th Viscount had transformed the Estate. Further generations of the Wingfields maintained the grounds, adding the Japanese Gardens, Pepper Pot Tower and continuing to plant specimen trees. In 1961 the Estate passed to the Slazenger family, under whose aegis the Gardens received much more care and attention.

Today the public continue to enjoy the gardens which first began to take shape over two and a half centuries ago. The charming walled garden, the striking terraces, fine statuary and varied trees are linked by carefully designed walks and set in the magnificent surroundings of the Wicklow mountains. Together they form one of the most beautiful Gardens in Ireland. 

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Reviews of the Gardens

“These gardens are world renound and justifiably so. There are a number of individual gardens surrounding the central fountain (breath taking) and each has its own charm. There was a Japanese Garden, a fern grotto, ponds with brilliant water lilies, a formal garden, and then the Rose Garden. I would imagine this area to be at least 300 years old and the roses are just beautiful, brightly colored and wonderfully fragrant. I'm not much of a garden person, but this was really worth seeing.” Peter from Missouri in the U.S., Tripadvisor

“We have recently visited a number of old houses with delightful gardens, and I can honestly say this is the best we have visited, and is always the one we compare the others against.”Tripadvisor Member from Preston, U.K.

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