Tintern Abbey

Made famous by William Wordsworth’s poem ‘Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,’ the striking ruin of Tintern Abbey is Wales’ best preserved medieval abbey and remains a magnificent sight, despite its roofless state. Although originally built by Cistercian monks in 1131 — the second of its kind to be erected in Britain — the present-day ruins of the grand Abbey mostly date back to the late 13th century, when it was rebuilt in a gothic style by Lord Roger Bigod of the nearby Chepstow Castle.

As one of the country’s leading monasteries, the Abbey housed around 400 monks, until it was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1536 and quickly fell into ruin. Rediscovered and painstakingly restored during the mid 18th century, Tintern Abbey soon became a much-visited tourist attraction, profiting from its idyllic setting on the banks of the River Wye.