Glendalough Monastic City
Glen of Two Lakes · Glenndá Loch · City of Glendalough
Early Medieval (c.590–1398 CE)·Early Christian Gaelic (Anchorite tradition)·🇮🇪 County Wicklow, Leinster, Ireland
About
About Glendalough Monastic City
Iconic Early Medieval monastic city founded late 6th century by St Kevin in the Wicklow Mountains' glaciated 'glen of two lakes'. Encloses 2-lakes valley ~3 ha walled monastic enclosure with round tower (33 m tallest surviving in Ireland), cathedral, St Kevin's Kitchen (oratory), Priest's House, St Mary's Chapel and the 21 m high Gateway. High crosses and dense cemetery with leacht stones. At peak a diocesan centre rivaling Armagh, with scriptorium and pilgrimage. Lower lake settlement and Upper lake hermitage (Reefert Church, Kevin's Cell). UNESCO Tentative List.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Original function of 'Kevin's Kitchen' with steep roof and belfry
- 02Upper lake hermitage chronology vs main enclosure
Theories
- 01Glendalough sited in wilderness to emulate Desert Fathers' anchorite ideal
- 02Twin lakes valley deliberately chosen for liminal water symbolism
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 590 CE foundation; round tower c.1000 CE; cathedral 9th–12th century; Gateway 10th century
- Period
- Early Medieval (c.590–1398 CE)
- Culture
- Early Christian Gaelic (Anchorite tradition)
- Purpose
- Hermitage → monastic city, pilgrim sanctuary and diocesan seat
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
590 CE foundation; round tower c.1000 CE; cathedral 9th–12th century; Gateway 10th century
Initial construction
c. 1485 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
53.0106° N · 6.3274° W · 140 m · 3 mapped features
Round Tower
round tower33 m granite round tower c.1000 CE with elevated doorway, capped
53.0106° N · 6.3274° WSt Kevin's Kitchen (St Kevin's Church)
churchSmall nave-and-chancel oratory with steep stone roof and later belfry
53.0113° N · 6.3270° WGateway Complex
gateway2-storey fortified gateway (rare surviving monastic entrance) with living quarters
53.0107° N · 6.3265° W
Gallery