The Consumers’ Association “Which?” lists the Avebury Neolithic stone circle complex in Wiltshire, England as the second best heritage site in the world for visitors, surpassed only by Monte Alban in Mexico, but beating Peru’s Machu Picchu and India’s Taj Mahal.
The sites were judged on 25 criteria, including visitor experience, the preservation of the site and the holiday appeal of the local region. The report described the UNESCO World Heritage site as “the best-preserved and most impressive complex of prehistoric sites in Europe,” adding that Avebury’s key attraction is the “quiet, bucolic setting, the lack of crowds and the ability to wander freely.”
The Avebury stone circles are the largest in Europe, and were built around 2500 BC. The site consists of three stone circles: the outer circle, the inner circle, and the Obelisk. The outer circle is the largest, with a diameter of about 330 feet (100 meters). The inner circle is slightly smaller, with a diameter of about 290 feet (88 meters), and the Obelisk is a solitary standing stone about 13 feet (4 meters) tall.
The exact purpose of the stone circles is not known, but they were likely used for ceremonial or ritual purposes. Some experts believe the circles were used as calendars, while others think they were places of healing or meditation.
Spiritual England Tour
Avebury is just one of the ancient, spiritual sites our small group tour of England will be visiting in June. Body Mind Spirit Journeys is now taking registrations for the Spiritual Tour of Merlin’s Britain from Stonehenge to Cornwall June 6 – 15, 2023. Here are more highlights…
- A Druid ceremony inside the Stonehenge stone circle at sunrise
- Glastonbury, including its Labyrinth, Tor, Abbey and Chalice Well
- Tintagel, legendary birthplace of King Arthur, and Merlin’s Cave in Cornwall
- The spectacular Cadbury hill in Dartmoor, likely site of King Arthur’s Camelot
Click Here For Complete Details of “Merlin’s Britain”