
The Monks' Fishing House
About 90 m west of the abbey (Office of Public Works) ·
About
A small roofless stone building standing out over the Cong River, reached on foot through the cloister and along the riverbank. The Office of Public Works puts it about 90 metres west of the abbey; on the ground it is a two-minute walk from the cloister. It has a narrow opening cut in the floor so that a net or a line could be worked from inside, and the outline of a fireplace in the west gable. The story locals tell is that a line ran from the hut up to the abbey kitchen so a bell rang when a salmon was taken, which is a good story and not something the Office of Public Works claims. It is part of the same national monument as the abbey, free and unguided, and it is the single most photographed object in Cong after the abbey doorways.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The fishing opening cut through the floor slab
- ✓The fireplace outline in the west gable
- ✓The river running clear beneath the building
Tips
- →The riverside path is grass and tree root and it holds water; boots in winter.
- →The building is not fenced and the river below it is fast. Watch children.
- →Best light is flat and overcast; the gorge is in shade for most of the day.
Best Season
More Attraction Activities

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