⛪ Glendalough
Ireland
About This Sacred Site
Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch — 'Valley of Two Lakes') is a glacial valley in County Wicklow that holds the atmospheric ruins of an early medieval monastic city founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. The site includes a well-preserved round tower, a stone-roofed oratory known as St. Kevin's Kitchen, a cathedral, and several churches, all set between two lakes surrounded by forested mountains. Glendalough remained an important pilgrimage site throughout the Middle Ages.
Key Facts
- •Founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, who supposedly lived as a hermit in a cave above the lake
- •The round tower stands 33 meters tall and served as a bell tower, watchtower, and refuge
- •St. Kevin's Kitchen is a stone church with a miniature round tower that resembles a chimney
- •The monastic city was raided by Vikings multiple times but rebuilt each time
- •The Wicklow Way, Ireland's oldest waymarked trail, passes through the valley
Location
Coordinates: 53.0113, -6.3296
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