"Situated almost exactly between Galway and Dublin in central Ireland, this demesne encompasses some 120 picturesque acres of gardens and houses Ireland's Historic Science Centre, home to The Great Telescope — the world's largest when created in the 1840s — and one of the oldest darkrooms still used since the mid-19th century. The on-site Rosse Observatory is run by Trinity College Dublin, and the castle itself, built as a Norman fortress in 1170, has been home to the Parsons family since 1620; family-run guided tours operate from May to September." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines