The most beautiful religious buildings Wales

Beautiful church. The main tower dates from the 6th century and was built by the Normans, while the rest of the building dates from the 15th century. Celtic chiefs and priests were of equal status and it was customary for the chief to give the priest a piece of land with a stream or other watercourse as a boundary, to build a church on. It's the case at Nevern.

In the church is the "Vitalianus Stone" (a tablet dating from the ^5th century with inscriptions in Ogham, an old Celtic alphabet of Irish origin, and in Latin)

One of the three Cistercian abbeys of the country and which has inspired many artists. William Wordsworth wrote in Lines Composed A Few Miles above Tintern Abbey: "Five years have passed; five summers as long / Only five endless winters! And again I hear / These waters that roll from the springs of the mountains / With a soft earthly murmur. - Again / I can admire these high escarpments / Which in this wild and almost deserted place give birth / The idea of greater solitude, and unite / The landscape to the peace of heaven. - The Day / It came for me to calm down again."

The abbey was built in 1131 by the Cistercian order and was, until 1536, the place of retreat for monks. The site, surrounded by wooded valleys and on the other by the river, proved to be favourable to their desire to return to the monastic precepts of Saint Benedict, isolating themselves to reject all forms of material temptation and seek spiritual peace.

Today, we drive under majestic arches in the open air, in a superb natural setting, to the delight of the eyes. Tintern is one of the few abbeys to have been preserved during the war led by Edward II. Today, the abbey still has the 72-metre-long Gothic church, the ruins of the domestic quarters and the novice hall. The abbots were often buried in the church, some tombstones still remain. Although in ruins, Tintern remains the best preserved medieval abbey in the country and is worth a visit.

The first view of the cathedral is impressive. It is surrounded by a large park covered with funerary stelae and one can immediately see its cruciform structure at the intersection of which rises the large square tower, with its clock and pinnacles.

For more than a century, this site was a central place of pilgrimage and the majestic ensemble still exerts its aura... However, it all begins with the mystical solitude of Saint David, who led a life here withdrawn from the world, totally devoted to the Spirit... The holy man, who ate bread and herbs and dipped his body in ice-cold water to numb his ardour, influenced the Irish Church through his asceticism! It was during the reign of Henry I that the place took a more administrative and official turn, when it was decided that St David would be at the centre of the diocese. It is possible that the location was also chosen for reasons of political strategy, given its proximity to Ireland. Construction of the cathedral began in 1131, and it was also from this time that it became an important religious centre in Europe. In the 14th century, during the reign of Bishop Henry of Gower, the architecture took on the appearance it has today. Until his death in 1347, he oversaw major works in the cathedral, which he envisioned as his future tomb, and also built the wall separating it from the houses of the village. The present official entrance to the site is the only original of the four gates of the enclosure.

This beautiful ensemble consists of the monastic remains attached to St Mary's Priory Church. Built in 1070 by Benedictine monks, it is now used to organize private events. However, we can linger in front of its facade, and in particular the beautiful window, known as Geoffrey's window. Traditionally, the site has been linked to Bishop Geoffrey of Monmouth, author of The History of the Kings of Britain, which relates the arrival of Christianity with the Celts, the departure of the Romans and the legend of King Arthur. The three sculpted heads below are those of the Knight, the Angel and the Miller. This trinity represents that of the government of the city, the Church and the business world. The panel on the left represents the coronation of King Arthur and his queen, Guinevere, in Caerleon. The central panel depicts Geoffrey writing his book and wearing the Benedictine black habit. On the right panel is King Vortigern listening to Merlin tell him the legend of the red and white dragons, the origin of the Welsh flag.

It is a church whose foundations date from the 13th century, and rebuilt in the 1860s, forming a fine example of Victorian Gothic architecture. The dedication to St George is reminiscent of the Anglo-Norman influence in this part of Gower. He has been the patron saint of Christian chivalry in Britain since the year 800. Beautiful stained glass windows, including one in the west designed by Nathaniel Westlake in 1905. Next to the choir is a cross probably dating from the 9th century - considered to be one of the oldest Christian objects on the peninsula.

One of the oldest monasteries in Great Britain. Its secluded location at the foot of the Black Mountains in the picturesque Ewyas Valley makes it particularly romantic. The Augustinian priory was founded in the 12th century by Father Ignatius, a knight converted into a hermit. We discover the moving ruins in the open air, with the eight elegant arches of the nave, in both Norman and Gothic style. Parts of the transept and the massive cross-shaped tower are remarkably well preserved. A real pleasure for the eyes, far from the hustle and bustle of the world..

To the south of the village, overlooking the Irish Sea, you can visit this church dating back to the ^6th century. Saxons, soldiers of the ^12th-century Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, as well as Cromwell's soldiers during the Civil War, are said to have taken refuge here. Even today, religious expeditions to the island of Bardsey (considered the "Rome of Wales" in the ^12th century) set off from this church. You can also visit the cemetery, where some tombs date back to the ^6th century. For further information, visit the website.

This chapel is located in a nice overhanging corner. During the last French invasion (22-24 February 1797), the French established their headquarters in a neighbouring farmhouse. A 1620 Welsh Bible, the oldest in the country, damaged by occupants using it to start a fire, was found there in the 1990s. It is kept at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. The site is a good starting point for a walk along the coast to Carmaeg Wasta Point (9 km round trip).

Next to the church stand the picturesque remains of an ancient abbey. It was built in 1115 by Robert Fitz Martin. In the nave of the ^13th-century abbey church, you can see the remains of medieval floor tiles.

Next door is Coach House, converted into a museum housing an exhibition of beautifully carved medieval stones and intriguing engraved Christian stones. The Sagranus stone, dating from the ^6th century, is the oldest and features inscriptions in Ogham, the ancient Irish alphabet.

The church of Llanrhaeadr is a church that should not be missed. It's a real gem hidden in this little hamlet. There are multicoloured stained glass windows, including those in the wing, the famous "Jesse Windows", which tell the story of Jesus' lineage through Jesse, David's father. Then, a little further on, we see the Virgin and Child, surrounded by twenty-one of their ancestors, whose names are inscribed on the sides in Latin, who illuminate with a thousand lights the interior of the church dated 1533. Don't hesitate to walk around, either.

Begun in the ^13th century, the Anglican cathedral of St. Asaph(Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy in Welsh)as we see it today was built, for the most part, between 1284 and 1392. The reconstruction of the building was partly financed by donations from pilgrims who came in great numbers to worship at this popular site, whose origins are not well known. Stained-glass windows in the north wing illustrate the legend written by the monk Jocelyn, the only "explanation" of the origins of this ^12th-century shrine. Depicted are Saint Kentigern, whose miracle was to discover a gold ring lost by the queen in a salmon he caught, and Saint Asaph. The latter's miracle is said to have been to carry hot iron in his cloak at St. Kentigern's behest, for want of any other means: neither the cloak nor his skin burned.

Literature and legends have always accompanied the history of this church, whose bishops were also eminent men of letters. In 1152, Geoffrey de Monmouth, author of theHistory of the Kings of England, an important work of medieval literature and a benchmark of classical British literature, became bishop of this diocese, followed by William Morgan, translator of the Bible into Welsh! In fact, it was Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100-1154) who gave King Arthur a prominent place in his main work. It was from this point onwards that the character's appeal to European literature and culture began.

1.5 km from the coast, the island of Caldey welcomed Celtic monks in the 6th century, replaced in the 12th century by Benedictines of St. Dogmaels who founded a priory there, then it was bought by Cistercians. The few monks who live there today, known as Trappists, follow very strict rules: seven prayers a day!

On the island, you can visit the Saint-David chapel and the monastery, but above all a very old Celtic cross on which is an inscription in ogham, an old Irish alphabet from the 6th century.

The foundation of this site as a holy place dates back to the 5th century. A stone church, built as early as the 9th century on this hill overlooking the town, bears witness to the important cult of St. Gwynllyw, the site's founder. "Woolos" is the Anglicism of the name of a Welsh nobleman who converted to Christianity after a divine vision. Remains of these earliest stones can be seen in the chapel at the west end of the cathedral. But most of the building was destroyed in the 15th century by the Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr, leader of his people's revolt for independence... The decapitated statue of Jasper Tudor, who helped rebuild the building after Owain's death, can be seen on the west facade and bears witness to the turbulent civil war.

Miraculously, some fine Romanesque arches remain in the cathedral's nave from these repeated assaults. A plaque commemorating the Chartists was also installed here. (Chartism was a British workers' emancipation movement of the mid-19th century. For more info, see the Pontypool page) The cathedral's website is also very instructive, since as well as providing information on the cathedral itself, it gives a chronology of the evolution of religion in the country. We learn, for example, that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the cathedral in 1962, and that restoration of the medieval roof was completed in 2017.

The Kymin is a 4-hour wooded park estate located on the hill of the same name, about 1 mile east of Monmouth, overlooking the Wye River. It includes a neo-classical round house and a naval temple, both built in the late 18th century by the Monmouth Picnic Club (or Kymin Club). The site was used to organize social events and banquets. The positioning of the Round House meets the criteria of the Summer Houses, very popular at the time, which were built on a site intended to offer guests a sublime view of nature.

Superb Gothic cathedral built around 1215 with breathtaking stained glass windows. The Celts were the first to pray at the top of this hill; then came the Norman people: the font baptismal inside the building testifies to their passage. The exterior, rather austere, contrasts with an interior coloured by the light of the stained glass windows and the finesse of the sculpted wood pan in the nave. Brecon Cathedral frequently organises concerts of Welsh choirs, for a dive in the heart of the Celtic soul.

This Anglican church is Cardiff's oldest building. The first thing you notice is its finely decorated tower, topped with pinnacles and eleven bells! The social function that the Welsh Church has always wanted to have is at work here. The organ is rung several times a week at lunchtime, and free evening concerts are organized, the program for which is posted to the right of the main entrance door.

The church also houses its own tea room.

This is one of the oldest monasteries on Anglesey. Only the church is still in use. Next door are the remains of the priory and the dovecote. The latter dates from 1600 and housed 2,000 birds. The buildings contain many architectural and historical treasures. The site was chosen for the church because of its beauty and proximity to the well.

You can take the private road for 3 km to observe Puffin Island. A beautiful walk.

"La Vallée de la Croix" is a deliciously peaceful place, where meditation is a must. This Cistercian abbey is much better preserved than its twin Strata Florida. The Cistercian monks who sought isolation settled in this green and secluded countryside at the foot of the steep mountains of Llangollen. When you pass through the still valiant doors of the abbey, it is a journey through time. Here we are in the austere daily life of these disciples of God. Many of the architectural ornaments have survived the centuries.

The origin of the town's name, this church was erected in honor of St. Collen, an Irish warrior and religious figure of the ^7th century. The most interesting feature is the ^15th-century ceiling: an oak framework, finely carved with angels and Celtic motifs, which is thought to have come from Valle Crucis Abbey in the village of Llantysilio. The adjacent cemetery is well worth a visit: it contains the graves of the two ladies of Llangollen. For the record, Collen means hazel tree.

This sandstone and brick churchstands on a small hill on the corner of Conway Road, which makes it all the more proud. Built between 1869 and 1871, it is now the largest surviving Methodist church in Cardiff. The church was originally built to accommodate the many Methodist families who were relocated from the port. Its large red doors make it impossible to miss if you are walking through this peaceful area.