GLENDALOUGH

Gleann Dá Loch ('the valley of the two lakes') is a beautiful valley in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, near the village of Laragh. In addition to its spectacular scenery which attracts many walkers, the valley is known to contain the remains of an ancient monastic settlement, one of the most important in Ireland.

Glendalough Monastic Site. This Christian monastic site, one of the first in Ireland, was founded in the 6th century by the young Irish monk Saint Kevin, away from civilization. It is located in an ancient glacial valley, in the middle of two lakes (the Lower Lake and the Upper Lake, surrounded by beautiful oak forests). Attacked by the Vikings four times between 775 and 1071, then by the English in 1378, the monastery was left abandoned after Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. Today, all that remains are ruins, including a 33-metre high round tower, a few church stones from the 10th and 12th centuries and a cemetery dotted with gravestones and sculpted Celtic crosses overgrown with vegetation, but the magic of the site still works. This ancient monastic land nestled in a deep valley forms one of the most picturesque settings in Ireland. A place of soothing beauty and spirituality.

Glendalough Visitor Centre. Recommended to be visited before entering the tourist site, the Visitor Centre features an exhibition on monastic life in Ireland at the time and a film explaining the history of Glendalough.