Located on Hovedøya Island, which is situated within the Oslofjord, Norway, is a piece of ancient history. The ruins of the Hovedoya Monastery, a Cistercian monastery built in the 12th century by English monks, will make you feel as if you were transported back to the Middle Ages. The story goes that Abbot Philippus from Lincolnshire came to the island along with other monks, where they founded a Romanesque-styled church. They then built the monastery near the church, in the name of the Virgin Mary. Sadly, the monastery was pillaged and set ablaze in 1532, due to political disarray that came about as a result of the Reformation. This incident resulted in only ruins being left behind. Despite it being just a bunch of ruins, the historical significance of this monastery cannot be downplayed. Hop aboard the ferry to Hovedøya Island and feel like an archaeologist by exploring what is left of the Hovedoya Monastery. You might just end up learning something interesting about this ancient place.