Bective Abbey (Navan)

Ballinlough Castle Bective Abbey Clonmellon Cemetery Drewstown House Dublin Grove Gardens p.1 p.2 Irish National Stud Kells p.1 p.2 p.3 Kilkenny Killua Castle Russborough House Trim Castle

Bective Abbey

"Less than 25 miles southeast of Kells, beside the River Boyne, stand the alluring ruins of Bective Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1147 and fortified in the 15th century. Today, the fortress aspect of the abbey prevails, and it has more the feel of a castle than of a monastery. It is a great climbing ruin [that's for sure!], with myriad staircases, passageways, and chambers -- a favorite hide-and-seek venue for local children [and visiting adults, in my case...], and perfect for a family picnic." (from Frommer's '99 Ireland guide)

Welcome to Bective Abbey! This abbey is probably best known to Americans for its use in the filming of Braveheart. If you've seen the movie, you may recognize the corridor pictured below from the scene where the Princess of Wales and her maid were walking and talking together.

Bective Abbey in Braveheart

Bective Abbey corridor

Me in the Bective Abbey corridor

My family and me at Bective Abbey

This is a side-shot of Bective Abbey. That's Jim Scarr standing there, and if you REALLY look hard, you can see the corridor behind him (in the dark area).

Jim Scarr at Bective Abbey

Ballinlough Castle Bective Abbey Clonmellon Cemetery Drewstown House Dublin Grove Gardens p.1 p.2 Irish National Stud Kells p.1 p.2 p.3 Kilkenny Killua Castle Russborough House Trim Castle