Rothe House is one of the most complete examples of an Irish urban merchant's house from the Tudor period — a rarity in a country where so much was destroyed by warfare and neglect. Built between 1594 and 1610, the complex consists of three linked buildings around two cobbled courtyards, with a reconstructed walled garden behind. It gives a vivid sense of how a wealthy Kilkenny family lived and did business in the late 16th century.
The ground floor would have been used for trade; the family lived above. The rooms have been furnished in period style, and the building houses a small museum covering Kilkenny's history, the Confederation period, and the Rothe family themselves. The walled garden has been planted with herbs, vegetables, and flowers typical of the period. The house is run by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and is one of the best-maintained heritage sites in the city.