Glendalough Monastery in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland
Whether on a day trip from Dublin or as part of an Ireland tour, Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains National Park is a must-see! Glendalough has a lot to offer: scenic beauty, numerous hiking trails, and fascinating ancient history of the monastic site ruins.
Nestled in the stunning landscape in the Wicklow Mountains National Park is the village of Glendalough. The two lakes at Glendalough are adorably picturesque and much-favoured photo spots. They are the focal point of a fantastic area filled with exciting history and adventurous trails for hiking in the hills and mountains.
Glendalough is also a filming location used in Braveheart and other films. Taking a day trip from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains National Park is easy as several tour operators offer half- or full-day tours.
In Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough, with its fascinating history and cultural heritage, is one of the must-see locations.
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According to written sources, Glendalough Monastic Site was founded by St Kevin, a 6th-century monk who led a hermit’s life in the isolated Wicklow Mountains.
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The hermit dedicated his life to Christianity, a new faith in an ancient Celtic culture. He is believed to have settled in a remote cave by the Glendalough Upper Lake, where he could live the austere life that his faith demanded.
St Kevin’s Church | Photo: Travel In Culture
As a former Christian settlement, the Glendalough archaeological site includes a Cathedral, St Kevin’s Church, and the ancient St Kieran’s Church, of which only the foundation has been preserved. Glendalough is unique in Ireland, and the monastic settlement is considered one of the best-preserved in the country.
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The oldest ruins of the Monastic Site thus date back to St Kevin’s time, but most of the current ruins are not quite so old. The Glendalough Cathedral was built in the 10th and 11th centuries – and has partly been restored in the 19th century to preserve the architecture and cultural heritage of Ireland’s past in the Wicklow Mountains.
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Today, the ruins bear witness to the place’s former function and its heyday when it was a symbol of a new religious era. In addition to being a sanctuary, Glendalough Monastery was a sacred place where the monastery residents could devote themselves to writing, poetry, teaching, traditional crafts, and agricultural practices in Eastern Ireland. Not surprisingly, a small religious community emerged here in the middle of what is now the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The evidence is the large number of headstones scattered around the small church.
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There is an instructive visitor centre where visitors can learn about Glendalough as a Christian monastic settlement and get information about the best hiking routes and viewpoints to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. A visit to the centre will give insight into the early history of Glendalough and its location in unspoilt natural surroundings, among the most breathtaking in Ireland.
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Coming from the Visitor Centre, the arched Gateway marks the main entrance to the monastic site. Continuing into the graveyard, hundreds of Celtic crosses emerge as visible proof of the religious significance Glendalough had a thousand years ago. Celtic crosses are Christian crosses with a ring, an Early Middle Age feature in Irish Christianity. They exist in three variants: plain crosses, as here at Glendalough, abstract ornamental crosses, and carved scriptural crosses. Often, the Celtic Cross is interpreted as Christ conquering death!
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Graves and headstones still stand in the cemetery as they have done for centuries.
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No visitor can be in doubt that Glendalough’s landmark is the 30-metre-high Round Tower, which can be seen from afar. However, there has been much speculation about its former function. Guesses range from the solid tower with 1-metre-thick walls being a simple bell tower to serving as a secure hiding place in case of an invasion by hostile people. The latter would also explain why the entrance door has been elevated from ground level. A ladder, which could be removed if desired, was thus required to enter.
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Also, in a direct line from the Gateway, the ancient Cathedral, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul and probably built in the 10th and 11th centuries, impresses visitors with its solidity and details. Most likely, it was once the centre of Monastic City, where the monks gathered for prayer.
In addition to St Kevin’s Cross and hundreds of other Celtic crosses, the ruins of the Priests’ House still exist. The Priests’ House is believed to have housed the dead priests as a resting place!
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One of the highlights is St Kevin’s Church, a picturesque stone church with a rustic stone roof and an integrated round tower! The tower is accessed from the church roof. St Kevin’s Church dates to the 10th century and is the perfect photo spot at Glendalough!
The Upper Lake | Photo: Travel In Culture
Afterwards, continue to the lakeside for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and trees reflected in the lake mirror on a calm day. The name Glendalough originates from Gleann Da Loch (meaning ‘valley of the two lakes’ – the Glendalough Upper Lake and Lower Lake).
The Lower Lake | Photo: Travel In Culture
The nearest lake is the Lower Lake, a breathtaking small lake surrounded by forested hillsides.
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The larger Upper Lake is equally beautiful, with numerous secret spots along the lake. One location to look for is St Kevin’s Bed, a natural cave above the Upper Lake, a pilgrimage site today. According to the legend, this was what St Kevin used as a retreat where he could ponder and pray.
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Today, Glendalough is still a famous Irish pilgrimage site. Particularly, June 3rd (St Kevin’s Day) is a popular time to visit the ancient Glendalough Monastic City.
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The Wicklow Mountains National Park is a stunning Irish landscape of forested mountainsides, scenic lakes, flowing streams, and soft green hillsides and valleys where the sheep graze. It stretches a large area south of Dublin.
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When you are visiting Dublin and also want to experience some magnificent Irish scenery, the Wicklow Mountains National Park is perfect for a day trip out of the city. Wicklow is the largest national park in Ireland and the only one within a reasonable distance from Dublin. Including the ancient culture at Glendalough is a must for the culturally interested. Other cultural heritage sites in the Wicklow Mountains National Park include two mines, where lead, silver, and zinc were mined until 1957.
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The area is absolutely walkable, and there are two popular paths: the Wicklow Way and St Kevin’s Way, the latter being an ancient pilgrimage route.
Read next: Howth Cliff Walk
Glendalough Monastery in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland
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Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland:
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