Monastic City
NOTE: Currently, access to the Monastic City is via 'The Gateway' (from the road beside the Glendalough Hotel). There is no access from the Green Road at present. Unfortunately, winter floods washed away the bridge.
Sitting adjacent to the Park, at the mouth of the Glendalough Valley is the 'Monastic City'. This is the title given to the remains of the famous early Christian monastic settlement first established by St. Kevin in the 6th century in the Glendalough Valley.
The monks abandoned the settlement centuries ago due to religious and political upheavals but many of their hand-built stone buildings still stand testament to their way of life.
Entrance to the Monastic City is free of charge - the site is open to anyone who wishes to explore at their own pace. However access to the remains is very difficult for wheelchair users. The site is also served by the adjacent Glendalough Visitor Centre which has an exhibition, an audio-visual show and also provides guided tours. An admission charge applies to the Visitor Centre.
The following monuments can be seen in the Monastic City.
The Gateway
This building satnds at the entrance to the Monastic City, and is perhaps one of the most important monuments as it is now unique in Ireland. The building was originally two-storeyed, probably with a timber roof. Inside on the west wall, is a cross-inscribed stone. Visitors entering the Monastic City from the road still pass through this ancient entrance, walking on some of the original stone paving.
The Round Tower
Perhaps the most noticeable monument, the Round Tower is about 30 metres high. The entrance is about 3.5 metres from the base. Originally there were six wooden floors with ladders. The roof had fallen in many years ago, but was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stone. Round towers were multi-functional. They served as landmarks for visitors, bell-towers, store-houses, and as places of refuge in times of atack.
The Cathedral
This is the largest of the churches, and was constructed in several phases. Of note, are an aumbry or wall cupboard under the southern window, and a piscina - a basin used for washing sacred vessels. Outside the Cathedral is St. Kevin's Cross - a large early granite cross with an unpierced ring.
The Priest's House
This is a small Romanesque building which was almost totally reconstructed using the original stones in 1779. The east end has a decorative arch. The original purpose of the building is unknown, but it may have been used to house the relics of St. Kevin. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was used as a place to inter priests.
St. Kevin's Kitchen
This church is most noticeable for its steep roof formed of overlapping stone, supported internally by a semi-circular vault. The belfry has a stone cap and four windows facing north, south, east and west, and is reminiscent of a round tower.
St. Kieran's Church
Only low walls of this church remain. It was uncovered in 1875, and probably commemorates the founder of Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement that had associations with Glendalough during the 10th century.
