⌘
Plan Your Visit
Opening hours, 2026 conservation status, admission, parking, kids' facilities and directions from Dublin, Galway or Athlone.
Visit Guide →A Georgian villa, a 160-acre lakeshore estate, and the largest folly in Ireland — built out of spite by "The Wicked Earl" in 1760. Here's what to see, the story behind it, and where to stay.
100,000+ visitors per year · Open year-round · 10 min from Mullingar town
Most visitors come for one of three things. Pick your angle.
Opening hours, 2026 conservation status, admission, parking, kids' facilities and directions from Dublin, Galway or Athlone.
Visit Guide →Robert Rochfort imprisoned his wife for 30+ years, built the largest folly in Ireland to spite his brother, and died mysteriously in 1774. The full story.
Read the Story →Six verified hotels and B&Bs within 10 km of Belvedere House — from 4-star lakeside hotels to family-run guesthouses.
Compare Stays →Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere, built this hunting lodge in 1740 on the shores of Lough Ennell. He hired Richard Castle — the architect behind Powerscourt and Westport — to design it. Then his life took a darker turn.
In 1743 he accused his wife Mary of having an affair with his brother Arthur. He sued Arthur for £20,000, had him jailed in a debtor's prison, dispossessed Arthur's nine children, and imprisoned Mary in a nearby family house for more than thirty years.
By 1760 he had quarrelled so bitterly with his other brother George, whose house lay in sight of Belvedere, that he commissioned the Jealous Wall — a false-Gothic ruin still standing today as the largest folly in Ireland. On November 13, 1774, Robert's body was found with a fractured skull. Murder, or a fall? Historians still disagree.
Read the full history →Even with the house interior closed for 2026 conservation, there is plenty to see.
Fully restored, with flower beds, fruit trees and peaceful paths. Peaks in May–September.
The largest folly in Ireland, visible from the main path. A Gothic ruin that was never a ruin. Read the story.
160 acres of parkland and woodland trails along Lough Ennell. Dog-friendly on leash.
Three children's play areas, zip line, picnic benches. Licensed restaurant and gift shop in the Visitor Services Centre.
Three follies on the estate besides the Jealous Wall, plus Georgian landscape features and period statuary.
Belvedere hosts weddings, plant fairs and seasonal events. Check the official site for 2026 dates.