Connemara — Ireland's wild soul

Connemara is what most people imagine when they think of "Ireland" — and yet the reality surpasses any imagination. West of Galway stretches one of the last truly wild landscapes in Europe: endless bogs in all shades of brown, shimmering lakes between bare rocks, whitewashed cottages with thatched roofs, Connemara ponies on the hills, and the majestic Twelve Bens mountain range as a backdrop.

Connemara is one of the last Gaeltacht areas — here, Irish (Gaeilge) is the everyday language, the road signs are in Irish, and you hear the Celtic language in the shops and pubs. The landscape is sparsely populated and possesses a silence that has become precious in our overstimulated world.

The Connemara National Park (free) offers several hiking trails, including the popular Diamond Hill (7 km loop, 2–3 hours, 442 m ascent). From the summit, you have a 360-degree view of the Twelve Bens, the coast, and the islands on a clear day — one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Ireland. The park is home to Connemara ponies, red deer, and a rich bog landscape.

The Sky Road near Clifden (12 km loop) is one of the most scenic roads in Ireland — it winds over the hills above the coast with breathtaking views of the islands and the open Atlantic. Clifden itself is Connemara's main town — a pretty little town with colorful houses, good restaurants, and the annual Connemara Pony Show (August), the oldest pony breeding show in the world.

The Kylemore Abbey (€14) — a neo-Gothic abbey on the shore of a lake, surrounded by mountains — is one of the most photogenic places in Ireland. Originally built as a castle for a wealthy Englishman (as a token of love for his wife!), it has been inhabited by Benedictine nuns since 1920. The Victorian Walled Garden and the woodland walk by the lake are enchanting.