Visit Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin

At the end of Dame Street, and not far from Dublin ‘s other cathedral, Saint Patrick’s, we can find Christ Church Cathedral, whose official name is Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity. Trinity.
It is one of the must-see places if you are in Dublin and an ancient monument. Like its neighbor Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, this cathedral is Protestant and not Catholic, as many people believe when seeing that there are two cathedrals so close.
We tell you how to visit this cathedral and what to see in it.
A little history of Christ Church Cathedral
We say that it is a thousand-year-old monument and it is practically 1000 years old since its construction dates back to the year 102 8 by order of the Viking king Sigtrygg, who was King of Dublin for 46 years.
That first construction was made of wood, far from what we can admire today.
Years later the cathedral has been undergoing modifications such as the one carried out from 1152 by order of the first archbishop of Ireland, Saint Laurence O’Toole.
For several centuries the cathedral was modified, adapting to the architectural styles that were emerging, giving rise to a much larger temple than the Viking one.
However, the instability due to the different crypts caused it to collapse a few times, so it had to be rebuilt, being the last important one at the end of the 19th century, giving rise to the neo- Gothic temple that we can see today.
What to see at Christ Church Cathedral
From the exterior of this beautiful cathedral, the gray color of its facades and the tall and robust square tower that rises towards the Dublin sky stand out.
Also very interesting is the small bridge to the left of its main façade, which links the cathedral with Synod Hall, the place where Dublinia, the museum dedicated to the Vikings, is located.
We must also highlight its bells, no less than 19 that have been added over the centuries, the last ones in 1999. Several of the bells were destroyed by an explosion in the 15th century.
The interior of Christ Church Cathedral is even more impressive than the exterior. Inside we must highlight the Chapel of Saint Laurence O’Toole, where his heart is preserved in a reliquary.
The crypt of Christ Church Cathedral
But the most important place in the cathedral is the Crypt, located below it.
It is the largest crypt in the British Isles and is also the oldest in Dublin that is still preserved, dating from the 12th century.
In the crypt there are various exhibitions where you can see various sculptures and the candles used in the last Catholic mass that was celebrated in this cathedral, in the 17th century, before becoming Protestant.
Do not miss the cafeteria in the crypt either, something that will surprise you. It is not something modern, since during the 18th and 19th centuries, trying to compete with the neighboring St. Patrick’s Cathedral, it fell into abandonment, eventually housing a market and even several taverns.
You can find more information on the official website of Christ Church Cathedral.