Glendalough

Glendalough, located in the Wicklow Mountains, is a beautiful valley sculpted by Ice Age glaciers and home to some of Ireland's best-preserved monastic buildings. St. Kevin established his 6th-century village here, a pleasant refuge where he could worship. The remains include a 108-foot Round Tower and spiritual structures that were active for centuries. The Vikings raided the settlement at least four times between the eighth and eleventh centuries, followed by the English in the fourteenth century before it was dissolved during the Reformation.

The primary attractions are located on the eastern side of two gorgeous lakes: the Lower Lake and the Upper Lake, which has wooded cliffs and a well-known waterfall. A double stone gateway leads to the roofless but beautiful Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, which dates from the 9th century and is located on the Lower Lake. St. Kevin's Cross, a granite boulder carved with a Celtic cross, stands outside as one of the best extant relics. St. Kevin's Church, sometimes known as St. Kevin's Kitchen because people thought the bell tower was a kitchen chimney, but no food was ever cooked there, is a short walk downhill. On this list, Glendalough is the tenth most beautiful historical site in Ireland.

Location: County Wicklow