Discover the Ancient Mysteries of Newgrange and Knowth
A Journey Through Ireland’s Timeless Wonders of Brú na Bóinne: A UNESCO World Heritage Site (visited 07/2024)
I originally published this text as Exploring Ancient Wonders: A Journey to Newgrange and Knowth on the Medium platform.
Ireland is a land rich in history and mystery, and offers visitors a chance to step back in time through its many ancient treasures.
Among these are the awe inspiring sites of Newgrange and Knowth, located in the heart of the Boyne Valley, which is inscribed in the UNESCO world heritage list as Brú na Bóinne. The two prehistoric monuments provide a fascinating glimpse into a world around 3200 BC, along with Dowth and other passage graves of the Boyne Valley.
This time, I visited Knowth and Newgrange in July 2024, and will share my experience, impressions and practical information.
About the site
Located 50 km north of Dublin and less than 10 km west of Drogheda, Brú na Bóinne Complex includes three main prehistoric sites bounded by a bend in the River Boyne: Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth, well-known for their significant megalithic art.
This area is Europe’s largest concentration of prehistoric art, and reflects the social, economic, religious, and funerary practices of its ancient inhabitants.
This 780 ha site was inscribed on the list in 1993, and contains 90 recorded monuments and many unrecorded ones. Excavations have revealed structures from the Neolithic to the Anglo-Norman period, showcasing extensive historical and cultural continuity.
Newgrange: A Timeless Enigma
Newgrange is a relative star of this complex since it is presumed to be around 5.200 years old, which makes it older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. The tomb was built by Stone Age farmers, and along with Knowth and Dowth, it reflects the advanced social and ceremonial practices of the creators.
The site features a large mound covering over one acre, encircled by 97 kerbstones, many engraved with patterns known as megalithic art, the most striking being the entrance stone.
The 19-meter-long passage aligns with the rising sun during the Winter Solstice, illuminating the inner chamber for 17 minutes. The light enters through the roof-box above the entrance, which makes this tomb different from the others, while the phenomenon symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness.
You can visit the tomb and enter it exclusively as part of a guided tour.
The 10-minute stay inside the central chamber of the structure is extremely impressive: you can see spiral and geometric patterns in the heart of the tomb, and even enjoy a simulation of the Winter Solstice light entrance. The guides will also inform you about the possibility of experiencing the Solstice firsthand by participating in the September lottery: for mornings from December 19th to 23rd 80 individuals are selected from 30.000 applicants to witness this unique event inside the chamber.
Knowth: A Stone Canvas of History
Just a short drive from Newgrange lies Knowth, another gem of the Boyne Valley complex. What makes Knowth stand out among its sister tombs is the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe, with over 300 decorated stones, making it a true open-air museum.
The great mound is surrounded by smaller satellite tombs, suggesting a large community. Unlike Newgrange, the largest tomb or the great mound contains two passages, however, entry is not permitted. Instead, you can climb on top of the mound and enjoy panoramic views of the Boyne Valley.
Various birds, such as sand martins and swallows, nest in the great mound, with their nests visible above the kerbstones.
The third large tomb in the valley is Dowth, which is less explored but equally important, however, I didn’t visit it this time 😞
Practical Information for Travelers
The site is protected under national legislation and managed by the Office of Public Works, and visitors can access Newgrange and Knowth only via guided tours from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is easily accessible from Dublin by car or public transport. While many private companies offer day tours, I decided to travel to the sites on my own, taking a train from Dublin to Drogheda, the closest town. From Drogheda, I took the bus to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre—there is only one bus line available, the 163, so check the schedule before planning your visit and entrance time slot. If you travel by car, you can park at the visitor centre.
The guided tours are well-organized: they use grouping for each slot using coloured bracelets, the buses that drive you from the main building to the sites are punctual, and the guides at the sites are knowledgeable and informative, I can’t praise the whole experience enough!
I bought my ticket online, but I saw they accommodated walk-ins as well. At the visitor centre, there is an extensive exhibition about the history of the site and the Neolithic period, along with facilities like a cafe, toilets, and a gift shop. When it comes to clothing, I didn’t wear warm enough clothes, so even in July, you should dress warmly.
And just a note about Dowth - you can access it on your own since it is not included in the official tour of the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
This is the first in a series of texts about my experiences with UNESCO tangible and intangible heritage - I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading!
If you want to know more about megalithic structures, I wrote a post on Malta’s Megalithic Temples so check it out.
And one last thing - this publication will stay free forever, but if you feel I deserve a cup of matcha 🍵 here and there, then please buy me some - the next drink’s on me! ☕
MORE ON UNESCO SITES:
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Inside Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace: A Journey Through Ottoman History
A Journey Through Time in the Historic City of Bath, the United Kingdom
Old City of Dubrovnik: More Than Just King’s Landing, Croatia
Belgium’s Industrial Masterpieces: The Canal du Centre Boat Lifts
Exploring Tallinn: A Journey Through Estonia’s Medieval Marvel
Plus, my “2025 Calendar: 12 Countries in 12 Months” is a gift for my free subscribers, so go and get your inspiration:
If you’re interested to find out more about Irish nature and art, check out these FlashFacts:
…and the Recap post published in Gabi’s Gab.
What a great guide to this area of Ireland. I visited Ireland in November and toured Newgrange and the Hill of Tara while there and it is truly a wonderful experience. The visitor center is impressive as well. Being a part of the small cohort on the winter solstice would be the chance of a lifetime but the simulation is still a heart stopping moment as well. Highly recommend.
I really want to go to Ireland because it’s a huge part of where I come from. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I love the picture of the inside during the Winter Soltice. I’m thinking Florida to Nova Scotia and then pop over to Ireland 😉. Should not be too bad flying from Nova Scotia to Ireland?
It’s really one place I want to go and also you have shown some beautiful places over in Austria and Croatia… just gorgeous places. One which I would love to live- the little town I believe it’s in Austria and has a population of 700 and there’s the “lake” with the mountain backdrop 😍
Thank you for taking us on these adventures. I really enjoy it.