Tintern Abbey, Cistercian monastery ruins in Monmouthshire, Wales.
Tintern Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the Wye Valley of Monmouthshire, Wales, where stone walls and Gothic windows rise above the riverbank. The open vaults reveal pointed arches, slender columns, and tracery that remains visible today.
Walter de Clare founded the abbey in 1131 as the first Cistercian house in Wales and the second in Britain. The site was abandoned during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII in 1536.
The name comes from the Welsh "din", meaning fort, and "teyrn", meaning king, reflecting the valley's earlier role as a defended settlement. Visitors today walk through the nave and transepts where monks once gathered for prayer seven times daily.
The site is open year-round and sits directly beside the river, with paths leading through the ruins and outdoor seating areas. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as some areas have uneven surfaces.
The monastic buildings and cloisters stand on the northern side of the church, departing from the usual arrangement south of the nave. This uncommon orientation likely arose from the sloping position beside the riverbank.
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Wales features a region with three national parks, including Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire coast park, as well as fortresses like Conwy and Caernarfon castles built by Edward I in the 13th century, and religious buildings such as St. David's Cathedral. The coastline alternates between red...
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