Stroll among the windowless and roofless ruins of Tintern Abbey, a 12th-century building founded by Cistercian monks. The abbey's shell may well be open to the sky, but it has been well maintained and there is a lot to see.
Before your tour, you will be given a plan of the abbey, which includes a suggested route for wheelchair users. The remains that stand today hail from several building phases that started in 1131 and continued for another 400 years.
Walk through the remains of the refectory where the monks used to eat their meals. Step into their dayroom where you'll see fragments of stone columns that used to support a stone vault. Go over to the ruins of the infirmary and its neighboring kitchens. Visit the cloister where the monks used to walk and work at their desks. You will see a recess in a wall here that used to contain a book cupboard.
One of the abbey’s main draws is the church, which was built in the second half of the 13th century. Although it lacks glass and a roof, it is still an impressive sight. Gaze up at the nave's ornate west window and examine the columns and remains of aisle walls. Pick up insights into the history of the abbey by reading the information panels dotted around the site. In the south aisle of the abbey, find the statue of Our Lady of Tintern.
As you make your way through the ruins, study the decorative details that can still be seen on some of the archways, doorways and walls.
Tintern Abbey lies on the west bank of the River Wye, a little more than 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Chester. Metered car parking is available on site. The ruins are open daily and admission charges apply, with discounts for senior citizens, students and children under the age of 16. Disabled people with a companion can access the site for free.
