Site of Strata Florida Abbey

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The village of Pontrhydfendigaid  is close to the 12th century monastery ruins of Strata Florida, once one of Europe’s most significant Cistercian monasteries and where archaeological digs are now revealing a much bigger site than originally imagined. It is reputedly the burial site of Dafydd ap Gwilym, one of the great medieval Welsh poets.

An Iron Age hillfort known as Pen y Bannau overlooks the Starta Florida abbey's ruins. To the south lies another hillfort, known as Gilfach y Dwn Fawr. The Cistercian monks who came to the valley to establish the monastic site of Strata Florida and developed sheep farming and mining across a huge area of land across the Cambrian Mountains.

At the heart of Pontrhydfendigaid - 'the bridge of the blessed ford' (known locally as ‘Bont’) is a narrow hump backed bridge across the river Teifi, whose source is about 5 miles away in the hills, at Teifi Pools.

Rows of miners cottages, now painted in a variety of pretty colours remind visitors of the past industry of the area. There are remains of mines dotted across the hillside, and archaeology is beginning to reveal that the Cistercian monks were also exploiting the mineral wealth of the hills around them.

Above Pontrhydfendigaid, on the road towards Devil's Bridge is Ffair Rhos, once the site of a fair and an important crossroads of a north-south route and an east-west route that passes over the Cambrian mountains.

STRATA FLORIDA ABBEY
The abbey became an important cultural centre, where monks recorded Welsh history and copied manuscripts of poems and the heroic tales of Welsh mythology.  Sometimes referred to as the 'Westminster of Wales' the abbey suffered slighting by English kings before Henry VIII finally dissolved the monasteries. the manuscripts have survived, now in the safe keeping of the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, along with the Nanteos Cup, which also came from Strata Florida, where it was venerated as perhaps being a remnant of the Holy Grail.

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Pontrhydfendigaid is on B4340 from Aberystwyth.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest Railway station is Aberystwyth which is 15 miles.

Public Transport Information Service: www.Travelinecymru.wales

Pontrhydfendigaid

Type:Village

Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, SY20 8TG

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Related

Site of Strata Florida AbbeyStrata Florida Abbey (Cadw), Ystrad MeurigStrata Florida Abbey or Ystrad Fflur as it is known locally, is on the western edge of the Cambrian mountains. It was established by the Cistercian monks in 1164 and is the final resting place for generations of medieval Welsh princes.

Coed y Bont Community WoodlandCoed y Bont Community Woodland, TregaronCoed y Bont is a community woodland situated on the edge of the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains. The woodland is recognised as a Dark Sky Discovery Site.

Cambrian Mountains | Teifi PoolsLlyn Teifi | Teifi Pools, TregaronLlyn Teifi is the largest of a group of six pools and reservoirs in Mid Wales in the western edge of the Cambrian Mountains. The area is a Dark Skies Discovery site and the nearest village is Pontrhydfendigaid which is close to the site of Strata Florida Abbey.

Strata Florida to Tregaron Walk, Ystrad MeurigPart of Tregaron Trails - Strata Florida to Tregaron Start: Strata Florida SN745657 Finish: Tregaron SN680597 Suitable for: Experienced walkers. Dogs on lead lead around livestock. Distance: 15km/9M Time: 5 hours

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