Adventure in Middle Earth...I mean Glendalough

   This past week my class went to Glendalough in County Wicklow. It's only about an hour drive from Dublin and definitely worth the visit.

View from hiking path between lower valley and upper lake

  Although the main reason we went to Glendalough was for it's early medieval archaeology, the reason I loved it was the nature. Some parts of the hiking path made feel like I was in a Lord of the Rings movie. Just look at that moss!

  Glendalough is situated in a river valley. An early medieval monastic complex was built their in the 10th century and thrived for a few hundred years. Around the 17th century, nearly all of the trees were cut down to make coal. (Apparently there are hundreds of coal production sites hidden in the dense forest.) Luckily for us (and the environment), about 200 years ago, the forest was replanted. Unfortunately, the entire forest was replanted with oak - not the wide variety that had been deforested. That's not to say, however, that the forest isn't gorgeous, which it is.

 

  Plus there are all of the little waterfalls hidden everywhere.

   Of course, the archaeology and the view from the archaeology is pretty spectacular, too.

View from nondescript, circular archaeological monument

   Like I said earlier, Glendalough is the site of an medieval monastic site. Like all medieval monastic sites in Ireland, it has a few key features, like a round tower, a main church, whose west door faces the door of the tower, and a cemetery.

  Despite a few obvious health hazards...I think Glendalough makes a prime site for nomination as World Heritage site, mainly because it feels like one. I haven't gotten that feeling from anywhere else that we've visited.