A visit to Fountains Abbey was quite an interesting and exciting place to see! Located 45 minutes outside of York, which is nestled in the county of Yorkshire, is definitely worth the ride on a bus with an [unforgettable] old man, who yells at innocent lads! [Editor's note: the duo is not referring to Mother Hen; it's a long and rather humorous story best conveyed in person...] Fountains Abbey consists of several monuments of past ages, dating back as early as the 7th century. The ruin of the abbey is settled in the valley of the River Skell. Along with the abbey is a Cistercian cluster of fountains and water gardens, created by William Burges. The abbey was the home and place o fworship for Cistercian Monks for many years. They migrated to this area from York in order to find a harder [and more truly monastic] life for themselves. Today, guided tours are given throughout the remains of this rich historic English heritage site.
Additional comments by PJ: The Abbey is one of the most inspiring places we've visited thus far. Unfortunately short on time, we could not spend as long a we would have liked in the kind of contemplation the site commands. The site invites one to ponder, reflect, and just feel the passage of years in the rich history of England. Fountains Abbey has been designated as a World Heritage Site because of its significance in reminding us of the great monastic period of 1100 - 1500.