Attractions and Places To See in Meath - Top 20

The imposing castle ruins are located on the south bank of the River Boyne in the town of Trim (County Meath).

Of the former St. Mary's Abbey, only a few remains are preserved, such as the Yellow Steeple. The Yellow Steeple is the ruin of the bell tower.

Older than Stonehenge and the pyramids, this monument stands in the green countryside of County Meath and tells stories of a time long gone. The journey here takes you along quiet roads along the Boyne until you finally stand in front of the massive burial mound. The intricate decorations on the stones and the special architecture of the cross-shaped chamber are impressive. It is amazing how people back then were able to create such precise construction without modern tools. If you take a break here, you can feel the special energy of the place - as if history itself is whispering through the wind. A detour is worthwhile, especially if you want to incorporate a little culture into your cycling tour. The journey is easy and there are plenty of places to park your bike and explore the area.

Underground secrets... Newgrange isn't the only passage tomb in Ireland, of course. There are two more in Brú na Bóinne. Along with the nearby Knowth and Dowth tombs, Newgrange has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Not bad for a site that was once doomed to become a quarry! Nearby, at Oldcastle in County Meath, you'll find a lesser-known collection of passage tombs. Around a handful of hills in Loughcrew are several cairns dating back to around 3200 BC. More mysterious and difficult to reach, exploring them is even more like Indiana Jones. If you get the feeling you're being watched, you might be right. About 60km away, on the summit of Slieve Gullion in County Armagh, the passage of another tomb points directly towards Loughcrew. The two cairns at Slieve Gullion are located on either side of the summit lake. The southern grave is said to be aligned with the sunset on the winter solstice. In good weather you can even see Dublin Bay from here. (Source: https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/built-heritage/newgrange/)

5,000 years. That makes Newgrange older than Stonehenge. It's also older than the Egyptian pyramids. But over the past five millennia, the passage tomb has lost none of its fascination. But let's start from the beginning: There is no direct access to Newgrange. If you're driving, don't let your sat nav take you to Brú na Bóinne/Boyne Valley (latitude 53.694567, longitude 6.4463). The visitor center there sells tickets and you can take a shuttle bus for a guided tour. If you don't have a car, that's no problem either: you can book a day trip from Dublin. Arriving at the iconic tomb is an overwhelming experience. You stand in front of an 80m wide mound, lined with decorated stones and covered in white Wicklow quartzite. A guide tells you about the myths and history behind the landmark. Newgrange could have been a tomb or a temple. Nobody knows for sure. The truth will remain hidden forever. (Source:https://www.ireland.com/de-de/magazine/built-heritage/newgrange/)

The Hill of Tara has been important since the late Stone Age, when a passage tomb was built there. However, the site became truly significant in the Iron Age (600 BC to 400 AD) and into the Early Christian Period when it rose to supreme prominence – as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. All old Irish roads lead to this critical site. St Patrick himself went there in the fifth century. As Christianity achieved dominance over the following centuries, Tara’s importance became symbolic. Its halls and palaces have now disappeared and only earthworks remain. There are still remarkable sights to be seen, however. Just one example is the Lia Fáil – the great coronation stone and one of the four legendary treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann – which stands proudly on the monument known as An Forradh. https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/hill-of-tara/

Office of Public Works (Brú na Boyne Visitor Center (Newgrange and Knowth), 2023-12-22): https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre-newgrange-and-knowth/ - Opening Times - Admission Wikipedia (Newgrange (Irish: Sí an Brú), 2023-12-22): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange TheIrishRoadTrip ("Knowth: History, Tours + Why It's Just As Impressive As Newgrange", 2023-12-22): https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/newgrange/ “… book in advance! …”

Office of Public Works (Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (Newgrange and Knowth), 2023-12-22): https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre-newgrange-and-knowth/ - Opening Times - Admission Wikipedia (Knowth (Irish: Cnóbha), 2023-12-22): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowth https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowth TheIrishRoadTrip ("Knowth: History, Tours + Why It’s Just As Impressive As Newgrange”, 2023-12-22): https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/knowth/ “… Make sure you book in advance …”