Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey is the first monastery of the Cistercian order established in Wales. The abbey is located between the village of Tintern and the River Wye. It is a lovely place, known not only for the woods on the hills around the abbey, but also for the river, famous for its tides. In winter the water in the river rises high and reaches the mouth of the River Severn, but in summer it is shallow and meanders quietly amongst the meadows.
General Information
Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 by monks of the Cistercian order. It is the first Cistercian monastery in Wales and only the second in the UK. Rebuilt in the 13th century, the abbey provided shelter for 400 monks and, despite the Black Death epidemic, survived until 1536, when Henry VIII decreed that all monasteries were dissolved and Tintern began to decline. The ruins are now looked after by the National Historic Monuments Society of Wales, and restoration work is underway to preserve the ruins.
The heart of the abbey is the imposing Gothic church (the other buildings are even more ruined, mostly just the foundations remain, but you can still see them). The church has no roof, but it looks extremely spectacular. The nave is 69 meters long, many columns are preserved, as well as the southern arcade and part of the cloister, the columns are supported by graceful arches. Nowadays the church is sometimes used for services, which, even for those who are far from religion, are an interesting ceremony.
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