Newgrange & Knowth
Summary
Ireland’s Ancient East
There are some archaeological sites so precious that they are strictly safeguarded and the opportunity to view them extremely hard to procure with tickets selling out many months in advance. The fabulous passage tombs at Brú na Bóinne, Newgrange and Knowth, are two such important monuments. Over 5,000 years old, these incredible structures contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe and were clearly built with a sophisticated knowledge of science and astronomy. Such is the demand to see the tomb’s illumination at the winter solstice, tickets to Newgrange are put to a lottery every year. Our short tour packs a big punch, visiting not only these two remarkable UNESCO listed monuments but also exploring key prehistoric sites in the Boyne Valley area. Before we return home, we also visit the National Museum in Dublin which houses artefacts from 7000 BCE and the largest collection of Bronze Age gold in the World.
What to Expect
- Access the complex of tumuli at Knowth and the impressive lone monument at Newgrange with its sparkling quartzite exterior
- Discover the Hill of the Witch, where we find Loughcrew one of the oldest prehistoric monuments in Ireland aligned to sunrise at each equinox
- Enjoy the fabulous collections at the National Museum of Ireland including the 4500 year old Lurgan logboat
