County Meath is one of the largest counties in Ireland and is home to the Boyne Valley which houses over five thousand years of history. The town of Navan where you’ll find our Europcar office is the main town in the region and offers a range of top quality amenities to tourists from a vibrant nightlife to a range of accommodation options.
The Boyne Valley is a region that follows the River Boyne and features a multitude of historical monuments and structures. The itinerary consists of megalithic tombs, medieval castles and religious structures built at the time of the birth of Christianity in the country. The top attraction in the area is Newgrange, a megalithic tomb that predates Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. This impressive structure is truly a sight to behold and the intricate design and intelligent planning is a marvel when you consider how long ago it was built.
One of the top things to do in Navan is to visit the Solstice Arts Centre which has a broad schedule of events including theatre, opera, music, dance, comedy and visual art. There’s also workshops on offer at the centre which focus on crafts, art, and theatre.
Trim Castle:
Towering over its home town, Trim Castle is one of the best-preserved examples of an Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. With an area of more than 320,000 square feet, Trim Castle is also the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Built originally in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy, the Castle was continually modified, rebuilt and expanded, by de Lacy and his son Walter, until it was finally completed around 1224. A new hall and stables and alterations to the curtain towers followed at the end of the thirteenth century, to enhance the castle that stands to this day.
Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth:
The megalithic tombs of Brú na Búinne, near the village of Donore, Co. Meath, predate Stonehenge by some 1000 years and are roughly 400 years older than the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Thought to be built around 3200 bc, these enormous burial chambers are surrounded by large kerb stones covered with awe-inspiring ancient artwork. Possibly the most important, certainly the most complex, Megalithic site in Europe, Knowth is designed to align with solar Equinox while Newgrange and Dowth are aligned with the Winter solstice. Visitors have been known to wander the sites, gazing in awe at these massive wonders for hours.
Hill of Tara:
The Hill of Tara is a low ridge of land running between Navan and Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. However, it is also an ancient and mystical site which is an essential part of Ireland’s history. Along the Hill is its oldest visible monument, a passage tomb called Dumha na nGiall, that dates from about 3000 BC. Tara itself is named from Teamhair na Ri, Sanctuary of the Kings, and was the traditional inauguration site of the High Kings of Ireland from about 600 BC to 400 AD, as well as the Stone of Destiny, still standing after thousands of years.
