paintings by Goya, Vermeer and Rubens; Killruddery house, built by the Earls of Meath in 1618, with gorgeous formal gardens, parks and walks; and Avondale House, the birthplace of 19th century nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell (dubbed the uncrowned king of Ireland for his role in fighting for home rule). Wicklow is also known as "the garden of Ireland" and one of the most famous is at Powerscourt House, an 18th century estate with vast ornate gardens reminiscent of Versailles that were named among the most beautiful in the world by National Geographic. The great house was gutted by fire in 1974, but the stone exterior remains intact and the interior has been transformed into shops and a restaurant. Grounds include over 47 acres of gardens, terraces, statues, lakes, trails and a golf course. At the far end of the county, and a world away from the elegance of Powerscourt, are the monastic ruins of Glendalough, considered one of Ireland's greatest centers of learning for over 500 years. Set deep in a valley between two lakes, the settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century, evokes an almost mystical sense of the past. The site includes the remains of churches, monastic cells, monuments, Celtic crosses and a round tower that served as a sanctuary in times of attack. Tour guides offer tales of how the hermit saint rebuked female suitors, cast monsters into lakes and befriended blackbirds. As the sun fades over the ruins and the Wicklow mountains loom In the distance, it's easy to imagine the monks gathering for evening prayer, or the saint making his way to a small cave high above the upper lake to dine on a bowl of nettles and sleep on a bed of stones.