Glastonbury Abbey Audio Guide
Explore Glastonbury Abbey with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.
About the Tour
Glastonbury Abbey was a former Benedictine abbey located in Somerset, England. It is now recognized as both a charitable organization and a history museum.
What you will hear
The Abbey Gatehouse
Starting at the 14th-century entrance, this stop establishes the abbey's role as a major pilgrimage destination. Images show the exterior approach and the transition into the parkland.
Inner Gatehouse Court
This inner courtyard marks the final transition into the monastic precinct, a space that once buzzed with activity as pilgrims arrived from all over Europe seeking spiritual solace.
The Main Entrance
The heavy stone architecture of the gatehouse reflects its enduring strength, having survived the 1539 suppression because it remained useful for administrative tasks long after the monks departed.
The Abbey Museum and Sacred Art
Located near the entrance, the museum houses artifacts and models that reconstruct the abbey's former glory. I have included verified paintings to illustrate the site's enduring legacy in art.
The Abbey Museum
Follow the path toward the museum to discover a collection of artifacts recovered during excavations that reveal over 700 years of continuous development at this site.
Resurrection
This painting illustrates the religious themes that were central to the monks' lives, which were strictly organized around the constant cycles of prayer, manual work, and study.
The Lady Chapel and Holy Well
The spiritual heart of the abbey, built on the site of the legendary 'Old Church'. This area covers the intricate Romanesque architecture and the subterranean Holy Well.
The Lady Chapel
Consecrated in 1186, the Lady Chapel was built on the site of the 'Old Church' immediately following a catastrophic fire that destroyed much of the abbey.
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