Kilkenny, Ireland

Kilkenny sits on the River Nore in southeast Ireland, home to roughly 27,000 residents. Kilkenny Castle, built in 1195, served as the seat of the Butler family for almost 600 years until 1967. Saint Canice's Cathedral dates to 1280 and retains a 9th-century round tower that visitors can still climb. The 1614 Rothe House stands as the best-preserved 17th-century merchant complex in Ireland, while the 1366 Statute of Kilkenny codified English law across the country. Each May bank holiday the city hosts the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, first held in 1951.