Rievaulx Abbey captured my imagination. Now picturesque ruins, this former abbey was once one of the wealthiest monasteries in England. That is until Henry VIII of England dissolved the Cistercian abbeys in 1538.
Founded in 1132, Rievaulx Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in the north. From the first moment I saw it, I was delighted. Captivated by the tall gothic archways of this medieval structure, I stayed far longer than my girls would have liked. For me, Rievaulx is the favourite spot of our drive through the British countryside. In contrast, I believe our girls preferred Alnwick, the castle used to film Harry Potter.
Evident by the sky, the day deteriorated as it often does in England, but I continued to take photos:
Practical Information:
- Rievaulx Abbey is located in Rievaulx England, near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire.
- The name is French, as are the twelve founding monks originally from Clairvaux Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in northeastern France.
- The ruins are now owned and maintained by English Heritage. BEST TIP: If you are an overseas visitor and love castles and old ruins be sure to get either a 9 or 16 day English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass. It will give you unlimited access to over 100 sites across England.
- Opening hours and days vary with the seasons.
- Do you prefer a tour? If so, check out this one from GetYourGuide.
- We stayed at various Premier Inn hotels throughout our travels in the UK and found them to be clean, comfortable, and affordable. We always check prices at Booking.com.
- If you love these ruins and want to see more, check out the ruins of Fountains Abbey.
Have you been to or heard of Rievaulx Abbey?
If you enjoyed touring Rievaulx Abbey with us, please share this article on social media including Pinterest:
Photos: Oman Grand Canyon and Jebel Shams
Heather Cole
February 18, 2017 at 12:41 amWow, this is the stuff of fairytales, and what stunning images you have (lucky I guess to have some good weather!!). We live in the north of England and I’m ashamed to say I’ve never actually heard of this place. We’re heading to Yorkshire in June so will make an effort to visit, looks like a fab place for photography (and playing hide and seek). Love it!
Lolo
February 10, 2017 at 10:16 pmWow! Absolutely breathtaking!!! Such a shame it was destroyed! Pinned for later!! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
February 11, 2017 at 10:03 amThanks. While it is a shame, the ruins are pretty amazing.
Handmade Jewelry Haven
February 10, 2017 at 4:36 pmThis is absolutely stunning, The ruins are amazingly preserved! The lighting you captured between the columns in one of the photos was just mesmerizing,
Thank you for re-posting!
– Lisa
Rhonda Albom
February 11, 2017 at 9:57 amThanks Lisa. We stayed here for quite a while, much longer than the rest of the family would have liked. I was mesmerised. I am glad that I could capture that emotion in my photos.
It’s not a repost, most of these photos were never shared before. I just moved 40,000+ photos to Lightroom and as I go through them I am finding many decent shots that have never been seen.
Adonis Villanueva
February 6, 2017 at 8:32 amBeautiful photos, Rhonda! Great captures of these magnificent ruins. Now I want to got there and snap a few myself 🙂
Rhonda Albom
February 6, 2017 at 10:59 pmIf I went back I would bring a tripod and an ND filter.
Trekking with Becky
February 3, 2017 at 10:01 pmAs a Tudor nut, I’ve heard of the dissolved abbeys/monasteries, but I’ve never seen any of them while I was in England. I’ve never heard of this one, and your shots are incredible. The second one took my breath away. You captured it so beautifully. I wonder what it looked like in its prime.
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 10:49 pmThanks Becky. They really are even more incredible in real life.
stephanie jefferson
February 3, 2017 at 4:20 pmOld ruins are a great subject to photograph, especially when it’s sunny!
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 10:05 pmSunny UK days are so hit and miss.
kid can doodle
February 3, 2017 at 12:00 pmYou’ve been to some fabulous locations! cheers, kidcandoodle
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 10:05 pmWe try 🙂
Lexa Cain
February 3, 2017 at 4:54 amIt’s absolutely stunning! I love the architecture so much, and especially love the beautifully manicured grounds. Thanks so much for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 10:04 pmThanks Lexa, it really was a wonderful place to walk around and enjoy, and of course photography.
indah nuria
February 3, 2017 at 1:31 amit’s a fantastic ruins indeed, Rhonda. Would love to visit this place myself..
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:57 pmI hope you get there.
Brooke
February 2, 2017 at 5:44 pmImpressive ruins! The ornate archways make me wonder what it must have looked like while it was fully functioning. Your photos are wonderful and do a fantastic job of capturing this historic site.
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:54 pmIt’s amazing they could build something this ornate so long ago.
JM Illinois U.S.A.
February 2, 2017 at 5:08 pmOh how I wish I could go on a photo shoot at this abbey. We went to England several times but never did visit there. If only….! Now I can only dream. Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful photos.
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:53 pmI hope you do get here. It is so beautiful and it loves the camera.
Star Traci
February 2, 2017 at 3:07 pmI had not heard of the abbey but that is gorgeous! I hope I can see it in person some day. In the mean, these are beautiful pics.
🙂
Traci
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:48 pmThere are many others to see too, as you drive through the countryside.
Olivia Morris
February 2, 2017 at 2:30 pmBeautiful and so sad that it was destroyed…..the ruins speak to the majesty though. Thanks Rhonda for these beautiful pictures.
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:47 pmThanks Olivia.
Anda
February 2, 2017 at 1:27 pmWow! I can only imagine how Rievaulx Abbey must have looked in its days of glory. Seeing these grandiose ruins one can only wonder why hasn’t this abbey been reconstructed? Why did they let it disintegrate like this? Such a waste!
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:47 pmIt must have been spectacular in its glory.
Jim, Sydney, Australia
February 2, 2017 at 10:21 amBrilliant shots.
Rhonda Albom
February 4, 2017 at 9:45 pmThanks Jim
Photo(Geo)grapher
February 2, 2017 at 4:50 amWow! Really picturesque ruins. Great photos !
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:16 amThanks 🙂
Dalene
February 2, 2017 at 3:35 amCan’t wait to walk through castle ruins when I get to England … great photos!
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:16 amGo slow and really enjoy. My imagination had a great time there.
Travelera
February 2, 2017 at 1:57 amNot only the photos are amazing, you got a really gorgeous day when you went up there, I have been near but I have not seen this Abbey, after seeing this photos, I really want to visit it, I will wait for a weekend in summer and try to get a day as fabulous as yours! 🙂
Have a great week! xxx
www.travelera.es
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:16 amThe day deteriorated as we stayed, but we did get quite lucky for a while.
Deb Nance
February 2, 2017 at 12:24 amThe ruins give me a hint of the real beauty that was once this place.
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:15 amIt must have been truly magnificent.
Gattina
February 1, 2017 at 10:19 pmThis is a real coincidence, I just saw this Abbey recently on “Escape to the Country” it’s indeed very beautiful. Reminds me of the one we have here in Belgium in Villers la Ville, they look very similar ! (http://gattinatravels.blogspot.be/2008/09/abbey-of-villers-la-ville-belgium.html)
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:14 amThat is quite the coincidence. I would love to see the one in Belgium some day.
Sanchie @ Living my Imperfect Life
February 1, 2017 at 8:55 pmWow…beautiful architecture. I love old building especially English ones…they always look like they have stories to tell. Awesome pictures! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:12 amCan you imagine what this masterpiece would have looked like in its glory?
Carol
February 1, 2017 at 1:21 pmUnfortunately, I’ve never been to England, but it I did go, I would definitely get the pass you mentioned. A tour of English Heritage sites would be heaven.
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:11 amThat pass was so worth the money for us. We used it quite a bit.
Alissa Apel
February 1, 2017 at 10:10 amNow that’s a sight! I’d love to see that. I can see why they’d pick this spot for a Harry Potter film.
Rhonda Albom
February 2, 2017 at 8:11 amSorry for the confusion. Rievaulx was our first stop. Harry Potter was partially filmed at Alnwick.
Susanne
February 1, 2017 at 9:26 amWow – fabulous photos. What a beautiful place!! I’ve never thought there were such ancient monuments still left in England, I thought most had been destroyed during WWII but maybe that was mainly in the cities?
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:41 amThe countryside seems to be dotted with amazing treasures like this.
Jesh StG
February 1, 2017 at 9:10 amThe Gothic arches are endless!! What I immediately thought was, if it were only these twelve monks who built it?? And why were they in England, and not in France? Not that you have to look it up for me, but ruins are so mysterious – there is a whole history behind it! Thanks for sharing:)
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:39 amThey were in England to bring the religion. I added the website link above just for you (and anyone else who wants all the history.)
jesh StG
February 2, 2017 at 8:33 amThank you Rhonda:):) Can’t remember if I ever told you that I’m Dutch, so England was closeby, But if one has friends living in another country, those are first:) But this is a nice way to get to know the UK too:) Have a great week!
Photo Cache
February 1, 2017 at 8:06 amA dream destination!
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:38 amTrue, and there are other nearby similar ones.
Comedy Plus
February 1, 2017 at 5:25 amI would enjoy visiting these ruins. I love all things old. I’m a big of a history buff.
I’m glad Melissa is doing so well too. Saw your post on Facebook.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:36 amThanks. I am a big fan of things like this as well.
Stephanie (@Vaycarious)
February 1, 2017 at 4:45 amOh, Rhonda! These pictures are gorgeous! This reminds me of some ruins in the middle of Lisbon, but the vibrant grass makes this abbey look pretty instead of creepy. I pinned this post for my future UK trip!
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:30 amLOL – we loved Portugal as well, but skipped Lisbon.
Nick Wilford
February 1, 2017 at 1:57 amGreat photos! I’ve seen these ruins, on one of our camping holidays in Yorkshire as a kid. They are definitely majestic and it’s amazing how much still stands too.
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:28 amDid you get to camp amongst them? I know you can’t do that now, but I can imagine how incredible that would be.
Brenda
February 1, 2017 at 1:35 amWow, what an amazing article, I could picture myself being there.
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:27 amThe grandeur of it makes is so amazing to be there
David
February 1, 2017 at 1:32 amLove it, must have had an amazing time!
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:26 amWe visited several ruins that day. This was my favourite.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
February 1, 2017 at 1:28 amA lot of it still remains after almost nine hundred years, which is impressive. You got some great shots.
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:18 amAlso impressive that they could build like this so long ago.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
February 1, 2017 at 12:07 amI’ve never heard of it. stunning!
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:16 amIt’s a treasure.
stevebethere
January 31, 2017 at 11:34 pmBrilliant shots Rhonda love the different angles, I was thinking that’s unusual to have a blue sky here then noticed you said it deteriorated typical heheh!
Have a tanfastic day 🙂
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:16 amLOL – the rare blue sky. We saw it in Scotland as well.
Rajesh
January 31, 2017 at 10:51 pmYou have captured the ruins beautifully.
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:16 amThanks. They are incredible.
Gemma Wiseman
January 31, 2017 at 9:54 pmSpectacular views of the abbey ruins. Love all the different perspectives of this grand old wonder.
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:16 amThanks Gemma, I had debated whether or not is was too many photos.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
January 31, 2017 at 9:20 pmHi Rhonda – it is an incredible place … I could have visited back in 1976, but it was the very hot year and we stayed down at Alnmouth at the sea … with some sea breeze coming in. I need to take the car and do a tour sometime … wonderful collection of photos you’ve given us. Shows the magnificence of the Abbey and the incredible ability to build such structures back in the 1100s … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
February 1, 2017 at 9:15 amIncredible is an understatement. I could have stayed there mesmerized for days.