Tour Scotland Sweetheart Abbey

Tour Scotland Sweetheart Abbey. One of the most beautiful monastic ruins in Scotland, and famous because of the touching circumstances of its foundation, by Dervorgilla, Lady of Galloway, in memory of her husband, John Balliol, the founder of Balliol College, Oxford. The foundation dates from 1273, and in 1289 the foundress was buried in front of the high altar, with the "sweet heart" of her lord resting on her bosom. The monks were Cistercians, brought from Dundrennan. A remarkable feature of the ruins is the well-preserved precinct wall, enclosing 30 acres, and built of enormous boulders—no doubt cleared off the ground by the monks when they prepared the site for their convent. Little remains but the church, whose central tower is a conspicuous landmark. Much of the work dates from the early fourteenth century. Located at New Abbey, six miles south of Dumfries on the coast road.

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