Tintern Abbey

Far off the beaten path, in the Wye valley of southeastern Wales, lay the ruins of Tintern Abbey.
Built over a period of 400 years, the complex grew as a colony of Cistercian monks lived and toiled in community. Working the land and caring for each other, with the help of generous benefactors, the community prospered.
When Henry VIII established control over the church in the 1500's, he abolished the monastic system and took over the monasteries, mainly it is reported, to take over their wealth. In 1536, Tintern was turned over to the crown and a way of life for over 400 years ended. The windows smashed, the roof removed, Tintern was left to the elements.
Abandoned, overgrown with ivy, Tintern became a fashionable tourist site in the 1700's. William Wordsworth wrote a poem about it.
Quiet, majestic. As beautiful as the lovingly tended cathedrals we've visited in England and France.
We visited Tintern on Sunday afternoon. The first weekend of December. Above, those white specks are wildflowers popping up in the lush green winter lawn.
Tintern, midafternoon.
On the way home we stopped by the castle Raglan for a quick peek as the sun set. There must be some kind of metaphor for life here about the beauty of ruins.