Abbeys monasteries and convents England

Bath boasts a splendid Gothic abbey, renovated by Henry VII and built on the site of a Saxon monastery that was the coronation ground for Edgar, the first king of England, in 973. Now restored to its original splendor, with the vibrant colors of its fan-shaped vaults, the church has a new look. Its construction, in 1499, was interrupted and resumed in 1609, resulting in a mixture of styles. During the reign of Elizabeth^I, it was nicknamed the "Lantern of the West", in homage to its immense stained glass windows: 56 scenes illustrating the life of Christ.

This abbey, now in ruins, was built in 598 by St Augustine to celebrate the success of the evangelisation of England. The building was for a long time the exclusive domain of the monks, before being used as a royal residence after Henry VIII had created his own religion and ordered the destruction of religious monuments. It contains the tomb of St Augustine and the burial places of various Saxon kings. The kings of Kent and the archbishops of Canterbury are also buried here. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

This abbey, now in ruins, is known as the oldest Christian shrine in Britain and is linked to Joseph of Arimathea. A fire destroyed the building in 1184, and the monastery, which had been rebuilt, was abandoned in 1539. Legend has it that King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were buried on the estate, but their remains were lost when the site was dissolved. Don't miss Abbot Dunstan's kitchen, particularly well preserved. There's also a small museum on site.