Strata Florida Abbey, Medieval Cistercian abbey in Ystrad Fflur, Wales.
Strata Florida Abbey is a limestone Cistercian monastery in Wales whose remains feature a west entrance doorway that leads toward where the high altar once stood in the nave. The surviving structures allow visitors to understand the layout and scale of the original complex.
The abbey was founded in 1164 by Rhys ap Gruffydd and became a major religious center in Wales. It was closed during the 1540s dissolution of monasteries, bringing its time as an active monastic community to an end.
The floor tiles scattered across the grounds display ornamental designs featuring griffins, birds, and a notable figure of a man holding a mirror from the 14th century. These decorated pieces reflect the skill and resources that the monastic community once possessed.
Access to the site is straightforward, with designated areas for bicycles and accommodation for people with limited mobility. Comfortable shoes are recommended as the ground is uneven, and a visit can take anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours depending on how much detail you want to explore.
Several Welsh princes are buried within the grounds and local tradition holds that the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym rests beneath an old yew tree. This connection to Welsh nobility and literature gives the place a special resonance for those interested in the region's heritage.
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