Hore Abbey sits at the base of the Rock of Cashel. Many of the abandoned monastery’s walls still stand. The medieval complex’s name is thought to come from the word “iubhair,” the Gaelic word for “yew tree.” Wandering around the ruins reveals great views up to the more-visited Rock of Cashel.

Founded in 1272 by monks from Mellifont Abbey, Hore Abbey is Ireland’s last medieval Cistercian monastery. In its prime, the abbey consisted of living quarters, a cruciform Gothic church, a square cloister, and a tower. It was originally a Benedictine monastery, but sadly these monks were expelled by the archbishop of Cashel to make way for the Cistercians.