Athlone Castle (King John's Castle)

On the west bank of the Shannon, above the town of Athlone and the bridge, is the 15th C. King John's Castle (National Monument), which now houses a Visitor Center with exhibition rooms devoted to civic history and the flora and fauna of the Shannon region. Near the bridge stands the Church of SS Peter and Paul, a fine modern building (1937) with stained glass depicting well-known people, among them the tenor John McCormack (1884-1945), a native of the town. The station, in Galway Road, is a good example of early railroad architecture.

The castle features exhibitions and audio-visual presentations.