Top 8 Natural Monuments around The Municipal District of Laytown — Bettystown

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/)

Newgrange was built by a farming community that prospered on the fertile soils of the Boyne Valley. Knowth and Dowth are similar mounds that, along with Newgrange, have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Archaeologists classified Newgrange as a passage tomb, but today Newgrange is recognized as much more than a passage tomb. The term "ancient temple" is more accurate, a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial significance, just as today's cathedrals are places of prestige and worship where dignitaries can be laid to rest. Newgrange is a large kidney-shaped mound covering an area of over an acre, supported at the base by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 19 m (62 ft) long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. The amount of time and effort that went into building Newgrange suggests a well-organized society with specialized groups responsible for different aspects of construction. Newgrange is part of a complex of monuments built along a bend in the River Boyne, commonly known as Brú na Bóinne. The other two main monuments are Knowth (the largest) and Dowth, but there are up to 35 smaller mounds throughout the area. (Source: https://www.newgrange.com/)

interesting @Christian427: I was there with a friend in 1995. We were even able to spend the night on the lawn next door. A great experience with a couple and in the morning after breakfast together we went on a tour of Newgrange. Today we were there: a mega visitor center, but with (entrance fee: 5 euros) it was quite OK and really well prepared. However, we were on our way back to Dublin and the next bus didn't leave for 1.5 hours later. It would not be possible to visit from the inside, only from the outside (according to the lady at the ticket office). The shuttle bus tour would be just over 50 minutes and with a stopover around 2 hours (but can only be booked online in advance). You don't have to/can't book the visitor center alone online.

In 1994 I was in Newgrange and Knoth. Back then I could just drive to Newgrange, park my bike right at the entrance of the site and buy a ticket in a small booth for little money - very simple. Even in 2017 this was no longer possible - just driving there. There was a visitor center, located south of Newgrange - with admission and bus transfer to Newgrange and Knoth. It is possible to book only Newgrange or only Knoth - or both together. Everything planned - small groups and a tour every half hour... I got a sticker on my jacket - which told me when it was my turn and which bus I had to board... In Newgrange then the same game - small groups - clearly well-organized who was up next... Also the further bus transfer to Knoth - my group got 10 minutes to walk around the site alone - the bus was already moving on. Knoth has become great - the whole thing beautifully restored! In 1994 Knoth was still a construction site - there was nothing to see then. Here too, unfortunately, only a short time to walk around alone - the bus was already ready for the return trip to the visitor center... But it was nice! I will definitely come by again!

The World Heritage Property of Brú na Bóinne is Ireland’s richest archaeological landscape and is situated within a bend in the River Boyne. Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth which were built circa 3200BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe. (https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre-newgrange-knowth-and-dowth/)

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/ “… Dowth … Visitors wishing to see Dowth can access the exterior of the monument directly via the N51. There is no access via the Visitor Centre.” Wikipedia (Newgrange (Irish: Sí an Bhrú), 2023-12-22): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowth https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowth Wikipedia (List of National Monuments in County Meath, 2023-12-22): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Monuments_in_County_Meath “National Monument 652 … Dowth Passage Tomb …” TheIrishRoadTrip ("A Guide To Visiting The Ancient Dowth In Meath”, 2023-12-22): https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/dowth/ “… 3. Parking (warning!) …”