Bective Abbey is a medieval abbey that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the county of Meath, approximately 50 kilometres from Dublin. Located near the river Boyne, it was founded in the 12th century and was the country’s second Cistercian abbey. You will notice that the architecture of the church reflects austerity and was most probably built at a time when the monastic life was expected to be simple. But don’t let its rather simple exterior fool you. The moment you step foot inside, you will notice that the cloister, which consists of an abbot’s carving, is a lot grander. Unsurprisingly, this was constructed during a later period of time. At present, Bective Abbey looks nothing more than an eerie, abandoned set of ruins, but you’ll soon realise that it actually holds a lot of religious significance. Nature lovers will especially love the lush countryside views that surround this crumbling abbey.