Newgrange
Leinster
Newgrange is a prehistoric monument located in County Meath, Ireland, and part of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. Built around 3100 BC during the Neolithic period, it is a large circular mound with an inner stone passage and cruciform chamber, notable for being older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. The monument features a striking façade made primarily of white quartz cobblestones and is surrounded by a stone circle and engraved kerbstones adorned with intricate megalithic art. Human remains and possible grave goods were found within the chamber, indicating its use as a passage tomb. Newgrange is renowned for its precise alignment with the rising sun on the winter solstice, which illuminates the chamber through a roofbox above the entrance. This alignment suggests a significant religious or ceremonial purpose. The site shares architectural and artistic similarities with other Neolithic monuments in Western Europe, such as Gavrinis in Brittany and Maeshowe in Orkney. Today, Newgrange is a major tourist attraction offering guided tours from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, where visitors can also explore interactive exhibitions about the Neolithic culture and landscape. The monument remains a symbol of Ireland's rich prehistoric heritage and continues to inspire awe for its architectural sophistication and cultural significance.
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Astuce: Pre-booking tickets is essential as availability is very limited, and all visitors must have a ticket including children. The best time to experience Newgrange is during the winter solstice, when the rising sun illuminates the inner chamber. Access to the monument is by guided tour only, departing from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. Visitors requiring special assistance or wheelchair access should contact the site in advance. Group bookings are available via email. The Visitor Centre itself is open year-round with varying hours, offering a fully interactive exhibition about the Neolithic period and Brú na Bóinne complex.
Faits intéressants
- •Newgrange is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, dating to around 3100 BC.
- •The monument is aligned so that the rising sun on the winter solstice illuminates its inner chamber through a roofbox above the entrance.
- •Newgrange features the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe, including intricate spiral carvings on stones.
- •Some stones used in the construction were sourced from distant locations such as the Mourne and Wicklow Mountains.
- •The site forms part of the Brú na Bóinne complex, which includes the passage tombs of Knowth and Dowth and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Histoire
Newgrange was constructed around 3100 BC, during the Neolithic period, making it older than both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
It was used as a passage tomb for approximately 1,000 years before gradually falling into ruin.
Despite this, the site remained a place of ritual significance and featured prominently in Irish mythology as a dwelling of deities such as The Dagda and Aengus.
Archaeological interest began in the seventeenth century, with major excavations led by Michael O'Kelly between 1962 and 1975, who also reconstructed the monument's façade.
The site is now recognized as one of the most important megalithic structures in Europe and a symbol of Ireland's prehistoric heritage.
Guide du lieu
The Passage and Cruciform Chambercirca 3100 BC
A stone passageway leading to a cruciform chamber where human remains and possible grave goods were discovered. The chamber is illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise through the roofbox above the entrance.
Quartz Facade and KerbstonesNeolithic period
The monument's exterior features a striking white quartz cobblestone façade and a surrounding ring of engraved kerbstones decorated with megalithic art motifs such as spirals and lozenges.
Stone Circle Surrounding the MoundNeolithic period
Newgrange is encircled by a stone circle that complements the mound and passage tomb, contributing to its ceremonial significance and architectural complexity.
Contact
Téléphone: (041) 988 0300
