Located on the border with Northern Ireland, Monaghan County primarily includes rural areas without major cities. In addition to the capital, the city of Monaghan also offers tourists the opportunity to see several interesting land estates and numerous forests and lakes.
It is one of the three counties of historic Ulster, which after 1922 and the War of Independence of Ireland were joined to the Free State, not to Northern Ireland, which remained within the borders of the United Kingdom. The border location for years of conflict in Northern Ireland meant that it was a shelter for members of local paramilitary groups.
Monaghan is known primarily for its nature. Its landscape is created by hills and forests, which reach 380 m above sea level. The large Dartrey Forest complex, which is part of the former Dartrey estate, is frequently visited. The remains of the manor and the Mausoleum located on the island between two lakes have survived.
The county's main center is the city of Monaghan with Victorian buildings and an interesting regional museum. The residences from the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century are also noteworthy. The most famous are Lough Fea, Carrickmacross, Hilton Park, Clones and Castle Leslie.
