Rievaulx Abbey

Rievaulx Abbey was founded in the year 1132 as the 1st Cistercian monastery in the north of England by 12 monks from France. The abbey grew so and in a few years it became of the most important spiritual centers in Britain. In principle Henry VIII´s reform caused no direct harm to the abbey, but it and its lands were sold to a follower and friend of the English king who demolished many areas of this abbey ruins to use as building materials ... luckily for all of this man did not live long enough to destroy it and and in the 18th other owners century took care of the ruins which were purchased by the British government who maintains and operates it now., It is in a valley in North Yorkshire, next to a river and its ruins are amazing.