What it is
Built around 1200 on the orders of King John, the castle was besieged repeatedly, most famously in 1642 and 1690–91. The visitor centre uses touchscreens and projections to tell the story, the courtyard has archaeological remains of pre-Norman houses and the 1642 mines, and the wall walk and towers look over the river and Thomond Bridge.
Allow about two hours; the castle is a natural start to a walk around the medieval quarter.
Getting there by bus
The castle is on Nicholas Street, about 15 minutes' walk north of the city centre across Matthew Bridge. City buses along Nicholas Street and over Thomond Bridge stop nearby (Thomond Bridge stop), and the Treaty Stone is directly across the river.
St Mary's Cathedral is three minutes away on the same street.
