Description of the attraction
Glastonbury Abbey, the oldest in England, was once one of the largest, richest and most influential monasteries in the country.
Archaeologists and historians believe that the abbey was founded at the beginning of the 7th century, but legends say that the monastery was founded here by Joseph of Arimathea himself in the 1st century. Here, according to legend, he brought the Holy Grail, the sacred cup in which the blood of Christ was collected. These legends have attracted many pilgrims to the monastery over the centuries, which also contributed to the prosperity of the abbey. The first stone church was built here at the beginning of the 8th century. Saint Dunstan, one of the key figures in the history of English Christianity, played an important role in the development of the abbey. The abbey was expanded and the monks adopted the charter of the Benedictine order. According to the Last Judgment Book - 1086 census - Glastonbury Abbey was the richest in the country.
In 1184, a great fire practically destroyed all the monastery buildings. The restoration took a lot of time and money, and the flow of pilgrims has noticeably decreased. However, in 1191, the grave of the legendary King Arthur and his wife Guinevere was discovered in the monastery cemetery, and interest in Glastonbury flared up again. At the end of the 15th century, a special inn was built in the city to accommodate everyone who wants to visit the abbey - The George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn.
The ecclesiastical reforms of Henry VIII and his decree on the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 ended the existence of the abbey. His wealth was plundered, land was confiscated, and buildings were destroyed. However, pilgrims and just tourists still come here. Even the ruins of the monastery buildings are striking in their grandeur and beauty.
