Newgrange
Ireland · Europe · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site
A Neolithic passage tomb whose entrance stone bears Europe’s most famous carved spirals, aligned to the winter-solstice sunrise.
Age
~5,200 yrs
Period
Neolithic
Setting
Megalithic
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1699
Status
Open (Guided Tours)
The great passage tomb of Brú na Bóinne is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Its kerbstones and inner chamber are covered in megalithic art — triple spirals, lozenges and chevrons — and every winter solstice a shaft of sunrise light floods the 19-metre passage to the central chamber.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ Carved triple-spiral entrance stone
- ◦ Winter-solstice sunrise alignment
- ◦ One of Europe’s finest passage tombs
Depicted Subjects
SpiralsGeometric SignsSun Symbols
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
BookingAdvance booking required — places are limited
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.