Last week I paid my first visit to the Swiss Cottage just outside Cahir. This had been on my list for some time and my goodness what a most delightful place it is.
This is a ‘cottage orné’ and it can be accessed either by car or a pleasant walk, about one mile, by the River Suir from Cahir Castle.
This was built in the early 1800’s by Richard Butler, the first Earl of Glengall, to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash.
The Cottage Orné style emerged during the late 18th and early 19th century in England. These were built as ornamental features on the estate and were thatched and used natural wood.
The Swiss Cottage near Chair, in Co. Tipperary is an excellent example of such a cottage and is surrounded by roses, lavender and honeysuckle.
The tour guide was excellent and she explained all the features in the cottage – with four rooms now – two bedrooms upstairs and a music room and sitting room on the lower level. The reception area is now in what was the kitchen.
This cottage was built to blend in with nature and none of the windows or doors and floors are the same – they all have various slants and curves – and these were all pointed out to us during the tour. All the original furniture was destroyed during the years that the cottage had been neglected so most of the most beautiful furniture there now is on loan from various museums and galleries.
When built there seemingly was a splendid view across the countryside and to the mountains beyond but this view is long gone since the trees and shrubs in the estate and beyond have now well matured.
It was the local people, in the past, which called it the Swiss cottage, due to its appearance.
Definitely this will be included in those of you on a self-drive holiday in this region as you can also take in Cahir Castle, the Rock of Cashel, the Vee, the Glen of Aherlow and much more.