Fountains Abbey Audio Guide
Explore Fountains Abbey with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.
About the Tour
Fountains Abbey is a ruined Cistercian abbey located in North Yorkshire, England. It is one of the largest and best-preserved monastic ruins in England.
What you will hear
The Abbey Mill
Visit the best-preserved Cistercian corn mill in the UK, a testament to the monks' industrial prowess.
The Mill Bell Tower
Look toward the roofline to see the small stone bell turret, which once regulated the tireless rhythm of the industrial workday.
Huby's Tower
Look up at the 160-foot tower, a late-medieval addition that signaled the abbey's wealth before its fall.
Huby's Tower
Rising 160 feet into the Yorkshire sky, this tower was a bold and final statement of the abbey's power.
The Chapter House
The administrative center where monks met daily to discuss business and confess faults.
Medieval Mason Marks
Look closely at the stones to find small, geometric scratches—the personal signatures of the men who built these walls.
The Refectory and Warming House
Discover the domestic side of monastic life, including the massive communal dining hall.
The Refectory Windows
These tall, narrow windows once illuminated the daily meals of the monks, which were eaten in a silence broken only by readings.
The Infirmary and the River Skell
The abbey's hospital and the engineering marvels that tamed the river.
The River Skell
The River Skell was the essential engine of the abbey, cleverly harnessed by monks to power their industry and sustain daily life.
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