A few miles down the River Wye from Chepstow lays the famous ruins of Tintern Abbey. Immortalized by the famous sonnet, Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey, by William Wordsworth, and the sketches and paintings by JMW Turner, it is arguably the most visited sights in Wales and western England, and has remained so since the 18^th century. Perhaps it is its romantic setting among the lush hills of the Wye Valley, or the majesty of its ruins, or the chanting of the long dead monks still lingering on the air, but whatever it is, one can’t help but feel both inspired and at peace in the shadow of the abbey’s ancient stones. Its not wonder the Cistercian monks selected this valley for the abbey’s location in 1131 and developed it into an influential religious center.   

By the 14^th century Tintern was the richest abbey in Wales, but along with all of the other monasteries, it was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1536. “Its skeletal ruins are now roofless and exposed, the soaring arches and windows giving them a poignant grace and beauty. Most of the external walls of the 250 foot long, 150 foot wide church still stand, along with the exquisite window tracery and outlines of the sacristy, chapter house, and dining hall. The daylight that floods through the roofless ruins highlights the Gothic decorated arches—in those days a bold departure from Cistercian simplicity.” 

For its amazing setting and magical and melancholy aura, Tintern Abbey is ranked first among my favorite abbeys and ruins visited in the UK.