To many the word Glastonbury is synonymous with the music and arts festival held in late June since the early 1970s close to the village of Pilton which is six miles to the east of the town of Glastonbury. Most festival goers will never see the town but it has much to offer with history, myth and legends at its heart.
Much of the High Street business today is based around new age/alternative beliefs. There is an eclectic range of shops selling crystals, hippy clothing, organic/wholefoods, art, new age books and music. Indeed it is nothing like most high streets in the country which are much of a muchness with hardly any independent retailers in some. Glastonbury is quite unique in that regard and much the better for it.
Glastonbury has more than its share of myths and legends all of which add to a degree of mysticism about the place Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea visited the area in the first century bringing with him the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper and was used to collect his blood at the crucifixion. Glastonbury Abbey was supposedly built to be its resting place. There are a number of claims of possible locations for the grail around the world but sadly you won’t see it in Glastonbury.
When visiting the town and local area there are two must sees.
Glastonbury Tor
The Tor is visible for miles around as it rises over 150 metres above the surrounding Somerset levels. It is only a short, well signposted walk, from the town and the effort to climb the path to the top is well worth is as the views are spectacular, giving a full 360 degree panorama of the surrounding countryside. There are sometimes storytellers and musicians at the top which can add something a little different to a visit.
The Tor has long been an assembly point for pagans and christians over the centuries and is associated with Avalon and the legend of King Arthur. The slopes are terraced but why and by whom remains a mystery. there is certainly evidence of human activity on and around the Tor dating back over two thousand years.
The tower standing on top of the Tor is all that remains of St Michael’s church which was built in the fourteenth century. All but the tower was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid 1500s.
Glastonbury Abbey
In the centre of the town is Glastonbury Abbey. There is a charge for entry and opening hours vary with the seasons. You can find details from the official website.
The origins of the Abbey dates back to the seventh century though legend has it that the origin may date back to the first century with the arrival of Joseph of Arimathea. The Abbey underwent expansion and even rebuilding following a fire in 1184. By the fourteenth century it had become the second wealthiest abbey in the country, second only to Westminster Abbey in London.
However the power of the Abbey was short-lived as it was largely destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. What survived is largely what you see today.
In 1191, following the fire which largely destroyed the Abbey, Monks unearthed the bones of King Arthur and Guinivere. The Abbey certainly needed to raise funds at this time for rebuilding so perhaps this discovery was somewhat convenient. Whether the bones were genuine or not they were reburied in the Abbey in 1271.
The Abbey is well worth a visit, especially if the sun shines and you have time to walk around the quite considerable and well kept grounds.
