Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey in Southern Wales

Tintern Abbey is situated between the southern end of the village of Tintern and the River Wye. It is in a lovely location and not only the woods that surround the hills around the abbey change with the seasons, but so does the river, which is tidal. In winter the river is high and surges down into the mouth of the Severn, but in summer it is low and meanders along peacefully.

Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131, by Cistercian monks. It was the first Cistercian monastery to be founded in Wales, and only the second in Britain. Rebuilt in the thirteenth century, it was home to about 400 monks, and despite the inroads made by the Black Death on the community, it survived until 1536, when Henry VIII brought about the dissolution of the monasteries and the Abbey began to decay. Nowadays the ruins are well cared for by Cadw, Welsh Historic Monuments, and maintenance and restoration work is carried out to ensure their preservation.

The imposing Gothic abbey church is the heart of the ruins (the other buildings on the site are in worse condition and little more than their foundations remain, but they are still worth seeing) and although it is roofless, it still looks fairly complete. The nave is 69 meters (226 feet) long and most of the nave columns are still standing, as well as a complete southern arcade and part of the cloister. The columns support fabulously molded arches, and the decorative work throughout is superb. At times the church is used for services that, even for a non-believer, have a particularly poignant and spiritual quality.

Please note that there is an entrance fee.