Explore the Monastic City of Glendalough

Glendalough, also known as Gleann D Loch meaning The Valley of The Two Lakes, can be

found in County Wicklow and boasts one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. While

Glendalough may not be officially classed as one of the Wonders of the World, joining one of

the day tours of Glendalough in Ireland is definitely an event not to be missed. Glendalough is

without doubt, a remarkable experience to participate in. When planning your trip to Ireland,

Glendalough is a must see and a truly impressive and memorable experience. Steeped in history

that dates as far back as the 6th Century A.D, the rich history of Glendalough is a true delight

for historians, art lovers and ramblers alike. Glendalough was an early Christian monastic

settlement that was founded by St. Kevin, which became known as the Monastic City.

There are many different walking trails in Glendalough. Whether its a leisurely stroll that you

are looking for or a more advanced hill walk, there is something that will suit everyone. Each

trail is clearly signposted and maps for these walks are available at the Glendalough

Information Office.

St. Kevin of Glendalough - St. Kevin was a descendant of one of the ruling families of Leinster

who originally studied under three holy men. After being ordained as a priest, he set out to find

his calling and decided to live beside the shore of the upper lake at Glendalough. St. Kevin had a

deep love for nature and all living things and lived the life of a hermit for seven years in a cave

which was originally a Bronze Age tomb. This cave is known as St. Kevins Bed and can still be

seen today from the north shore of the lake. Glendalough evolved into one of the greatest

centres of Christianity in Ireland and continued to develop for more than a thousand years after

St. Kevins demise.

Round Tower - The Round Tower is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful towers in

Ireland. The Round Tower is the most visible monument at Glendalough standing at an

impressive 30 metres tall. The Round Tower originally featured six wooden floors with ladders,

topped with a conical roof. Over time, the aging roof was damaged after a particularly powerful

storm and its conical roof was finally devastated by a powerful lighting strike. In 1876 the roof

was successfully rebuilt mostly using the original stones that were found inside the tower,

restoring this beautiful tower to its former glory.

Glendalough flourished as one of Irelands great religious foundations and schools of learning

until the Normans devastated the monastery in 1214 A.D.

Seven Churches of Glendalough - Known also as the city of Seven Churches, not all of these

churches are inside the enclosure of Glendalough. St. Kevins church is easily the best known

and is known by many as St. Kevins Kitchen because of its integrated smaller Round Tower that

somewhat resembles a chimney.

St. Kierans Church - Just across from St. Kevins Kitchen, Glendalough visitors will find the

foundation walls of St. Kierans Church. St Kieran was a good friend and contemporary of St.

Kevin. The remains of this church were not discovered until 1875.

St. Mary's Church - Dating back to the 10th century, St. Mary's Church was one of the earlier

churches in the valley and is believed to have been built outside of the previously walled

enclosure for nuns and entirely used by women.

Reefert Church - This church is found on the other side of the valley, on a tranquil spot near the

Upper Lake, The simple nave-and-chancel church was built around 1100 A.D. The name

'Reefert' derives from the Irish 'Righ Fearta' meaning 'burial place of the kings' - the chiefs of

the local O'Toole and O'Byrne clans found their final resting place here. Many historians even

believe that St. Kevin himself lies buried here.

Temple-na-Skellig - This church at the foot of a steep cliff on the southern shore of the Upper

Lake stands on the site of the very first settlement St. Kevin and his disciples built The church

sits directly underneath 'St. Kevin's Bed' - a man-made cave, where St. Kevin is thought to have

spent the seasons of lent in complete seclusion. Regrettably, the site is no longer accessible to

the public but visitors can still view it from the opposite shore of the Upper Lake.

Trinity Church - Trinity Church lies somewhat hidden east of the Monastic City, on the road to

Laragh and built around the 1100s. This church also had an integrated belfry tower, quite

similar to St. Kevin's Church, but it collapsed during a storm in 1818.

St. Saviour's Priory - The Priory was founded in the mid-12th century by Lawrence O'Toole,

abbot of Glendalough and later archbishop of Dublin. It is the most recent of the seven

churches built in the valley and served as a priory for Augustinian monks.

The Cathedral - Construction of The Cathedral, which is the largest church on the Glendalough

site, began in many stages dating as far back from the 10th right through to the 13th century.

The first phase of the cathedral was the nave, the central part of a church building which was

designed to accommodate the congregation. Many of the buildings that survive in Glendalough

today date as far back from the 10th through 12th centuries.

Surrounded by numerous acres of beautiful woodland, wildlife and historic buildings, visitors on

a day tour can thoroughly immerse themselves in picturesque scenery and enjoy a visit to take

in the many sights that Glendalough has to offer.

Source: - http://www.wildrovertours.com/explore-the-monastic-city-of-glendalough/