Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park

Republic_of_Ireland

Brú na Bóinne (English: "Palace of the Boyne") is an internationally important complex of Neolithic chamber tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric enclosures located in a wide meander of the River Boyne in Ireland.

Newgrange Neolithic Burial Mound The Brú Na Bóinne Visitor Centre acts as a gateway to the Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park for visitors from all over the world and is the starting point for all visits to the archaeological sites of Newgrange and Knowth. It is administered by the Office of Public Works and Heritage Ireland. Newgrange is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Access to the other sites in the Brú na Bóinne Archaeological Park is limited. The Dowth site is open to the public direct from the road, but there is only limited access to the southern chamber (during the Winter Solstice alignment) and no access to the northern passage and chamber. Many of the satellite sites are on private land and, therefore, access is extremely restricted and requires permission from the landowners.

Entrance to the Megalithic Passage Tomb in the valley of the Boyne. The top entrance, or 'roof box' entrance, is for the sun The entrance slab is 10 feet by 4 feet in size and 5 tons in weight. It is one of the most famous rocks in Ireland and stands at the entrance to Newgrange, a “passage tomb” 300 feet in diameter and 40 feet high that is older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge. The carved spiral design, although more ancient than the coming of the Celts to Ireland, was often copied by them and became one of the legendary Celtic designs.

  • Visitor Centre, Donore (2 km west of Donore village, on the south side river Boyne, +353 41 988 0300. Open daily: Feb-Apr: 09:30-17:30, May: 09:00-18:30, Jun-mid Sep: 09:00-19:00, mid-end Sep: 09:00-18:30, Oct: 09:30-17:30, Nov-Jan: 09:00-17:00. Knowth is open only from Mar 25 to Nov 2. Last admission to Visitor Centre: 45 min before closing. Last tour of monuments 1h 45min before closing. The Visitor Centre houses a large interactive exhibition on the Brú na Bóinne area, an audio-visual presentation, a wheelchair accessible replica of the interior of the passage and chamber at Newgrange. It also has a tourist office, gift shop and tea rooms. There is a large car park and a picnic area at the Visitor Centre. There is no left luggage facility. The Visitor Centre exhibition, audio-visual presentation, return shuttle bus to either site and full guided tour are all included in the entry fee. Visitor Centre (VC): adults €3. VC + Newgrange: adults €6. VC + Knowth: adults €5. VC + Newgrange + Knowth: adults €11.
  • Newgrange. Visitors have access to the chamber at Newgrange. No photography or filming is allowed in the chamber. Duration of the tour is about 1 hr. ₩.
  • Knowth. There is only very limited access to the eastern passage of Knowth and visitors may only look down it - there is no access to either passage or chamber. Duration of the tour is about 1h.

Visitor Centre, Donore (2 km west of Donore village, on the south side river Boyne, +353 41 988 0300. Open daily: Feb-Apr: 09:30-17:30, May: 09:00-18:30, Jun-mid Sep: 09:00-19:00, mid-end Sep: 09:00-18:30, Oct: 09:30-17:30, Nov-Jan: 09:00-17:00. Knowth is open only from Mar 25 to Nov 2. Last admission to Visitor Centre: 45 min before closing. Last tour of monuments 1h 45min before closing. The Visitor Centre houses a large interactive exhibition on the Brú na Bóinne area, an audio-visual presentation, a wheelchair accessible replica of the interior of the passage and chamber at Newgrange. It also has a tourist office, gift shop and tea rooms. There is a large car park and a picnic area at the Visitor Centre. There is no left luggage facility. The Visitor Centre exhibition, audio-visual presentation, return shuttle bus to either site and full guided tour are all included in the entry fee. Visitor Centre (VC): adults €3. VC + Newgrange: adults €6. VC + Knowth: adults €5. VC + Newgrange + Knowth: adults €11.

Newgrange. Visitors have access to the chamber at Newgrange. No photography or filming is allowed in the chamber. Duration of the tour is about 1 hr. ₩.

Knowth. There is only very limited access to the eastern passage of Knowth and visitors may only look down it - there is no access to either passage or chamber. Duration of the tour is about 1h.

  • Enter the annual Solstice lottery for a place in the chamber of Newgrange on the winter solstice (21 December).
  • Visit Newgrange on the Winter Solstice in order to witness the rising sun alignment (weather permitting). Access to the site is allowed, but only winners of the annual solstice lottery and other guests are allowed access to the chamber.
  • Visit Dowth on the Winter Solstice in order to witness the setting sun alignment (weather permitting). No lottery applies - usually the assembled people take turns inside the chamber.

There is a café, tourist information point and toilet facilities available in the Visitor Centre. Limited toilet facilities are available on-site at Newgrange and Knowth.