neWgrange
an ancient nEolithic monument
Newgrange monument was built around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. It’s a Stone Age (Neolithic) monument in the Boyne Valley, Ireland, resembling a large mound. A 19-metre passage leads into the mound, revealing a single chamber with three alcoves. The monument is roughly an acre in size, and would have taken Stone Age farmers decades to build.
Winter solstice
Newgrange has a window in exactly the right place so that, at sunrise on the winter solstice, the sunlight floods in and illuminates the entire passage. Achieving this precision over 5,000 years ago is an impressive feat.
Archaeologists believe that Newgrange was used as an ancient temple and a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance.
brú na Bóinne Visitor centre
Newgrange monument can only be accessed via the nearby Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. The centre gives an interactive introduction to Neolithic culture, the local landscape, and the monuments located across the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can then take a shuttle bus from the visitor centre to Newgrange and another ancient monument, Knowth, where expert guides can provide more detail into these archaeological wonders.something suitable for an outdoor adventure.
planning your experiEnce
If you’d like to visit Newgrange and marvel at the monument, advance booking is essential. We’d recommend adding the experience to the first or second day of your tour around Ireland, spending around two hours exploring the World Heritage Site.
Let us know if you’d like to add a visit to Newgrange to your bespoke Irish adventure, and we’ll take it from there.
build yoUr uniQue journey
Get the most out of your Celtic Routes journey and build your adventure around the experiences that matter to you. Talk to us about planning your unique trip of a lifetime.
