Glendalough, Co. Wicklow

Founded as a hermitage by Saint Kevin in the late 6th century. Kevin lived alone for seven years in a cave above the Upper Lake. The cave was already ancient when he found it, a Bronze Age tomb cut into the rock. The community he refused to lead grew up around him anyway. By the 9th century Glendalough was one of the great monastic centres of Europe. It was raided by Vikings repeatedly, and finally destroyed by English forces in 1398. The round tower is 30 metres high with its entrance set 3.5 metres above the ground. The original roof was struck by lightning and replaced in 1876. Everything else is as the monks left it.