Durward's Glen, Historic retreat center in Baraboo Hills, Wisconsin.
Durward's Glen is a 40-acre retreat property in the Baraboo Hills featuring a chapel, grottoes, residences, a barn, and outdoor religious statues positioned throughout the grounds. The structures display Renaissance Revival architecture and nestle naturally between the steep cliffs that surround the site.
Scottish painter and poet Bernard Durward purchased the property in 1862 and developed it as his artistic retreat. The site later became a religious center, and the chapel was rebuilt in the 1920s after a fire destroyed the original structure.
St. Mary's of the Pines chapel serves as the religious and social center where people gather for prayer and community events. The site blends faith with nature, creating a space where the surrounding cliffs and grottoes deepen the spiritual experience.
The grounds are open from dawn to dusk year-round, allowing visitors to walk the trails and explore the grottoes at their own pace. Weekday visits are best if you want to see the chapel interior, as access is limited to daytime hours.
The site was founded by a Scottish artist, but its original artistic purpose was later overshadowed by religious use. Visitors walking the grounds can still sense this blended history where creative vision meets spiritual practice.
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