Baltinglass is a delightful country town on the banks of the River Slaney. Bronze age burial chambers (5,000 years old) have been excavated on the Pinnacle, a 1,258 ft hill to the east of the town. Baltinglass is also a good base from which to explore the many golfing, fishing, and heritage sites in the area.

Baltinglass Heritage and Visitor Centre are situated in the heart of Baltinglass, beside and underneath the Courthouse. It is designed to reflect on the history and heritage since the early ages of all surrounding areas of West Wicklow, Carlow and South Kildare. Beneath the Courthouse, the exposure of the old arched prison cells gives an interesting insight into the conditions in which prisoners were incarcerated in earlier ages. The centre is open from May to September inclusive. It also incorporates the tourist information office (Tel 059 6482270).Diarmuid MacMurrough, King of Leinster, founded this Cistercian Abbey in 1148 as a daughter house of Mellifont.  The style of sculpture is similar to Jerpoint Abbey in Kilkenny.  In the 16th Century, the abbey was dissolved as part of Henry VIII's campaign.  A protestant church is still active on the site.   Fragments of the church and traces of the cloister still survive.