What stonehenge is made of. Stone stonehenge - the most mysterious monument in england

This monument of prehistoric architecture is built in the form of a circular fence of two types of hewn stone blocks, which were transported from the Preseli Mountains to the construction site for several centuries. And the Preselian Mountains are located more than 200 km from Stonehenge.

And then a legitimate question arises: how did our prehistoric ancestors manage to drag heavy boulders over such a huge distance, and, in fact, why? There are a lot of assumptions.

According to an old Celtic legend, Stonehenge was created by the wizard Merlin. It was he, the great sorcerer, who personally moved the bulky boulders from Ireland and the far south of England to the town of Stonehenge, which is located north of the town of Salisbury, in Wiltshire, and erected there a centuries-old sanctuary - the most famous in the British Isles, and in all world, megalith.

Stonehenge - history

Stonehenge, we recall, is a double circular fence of vertically installed large stones. Archaeologists call this fence a cromlech. And it was built, in their opinion, between the III and II millennia BC - in five stages that are large in time.

Back in 1136, the English chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth testified that "these stones were brought from afar."

How the construction of the megalith took place

We, however, relying on the data of modern geology, in one thing we can agree with him completely:

• Some of the blocks for the construction of the megalith were indeed somehow brought from the west, but not from the quarries closest to Stonehenge.
• In addition, 80 tons of menhirs, or processed stone blocks, which were then installed in an upright position, were brought from the southern regions of Wales, located in western England (in particular, from Pembrokeshire). And it was already at the second stage of construction, i.e. in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC From the Preselian quarries, in southwest Wales, the so-called blue stones were transported to Stonehenge by water - or so the famous English archaeologist, Professor Richard Atkinson suggests. And more precisely - along the sea and rivers inland.
• And finally - the final segment of the path, the "front", which a few centuries later, in 1265, received the name that has survived to this day, albeit in a slightly different meaning: "avenue".

And here it is really just right to admire the strength and longsuffering of the ancients.

The skill of masons is no less admirable. Indeed, most of the roofing slabs of the famous dolmen, as megalithic structures such as Stonehenge are also called, weigh several tons, and the weight of many supports is several centners.

But it was still necessary to find suitable blocks, transport them to the place of future construction and install in a strictly defined order. In a word, the construction of Stonehenge, in modern terms, was tantamount to a labor feat.

Stonehenge stones

In fact, during the construction of Stonehenge, stones of two types were used: strong boulders - the so-called aeolian pillars - of Avberian sandstone, from which trilites were folded - the same dolmens, or vertical stone blocks with transverse stone slabs on top, forming the outer circle of the entire structure; and softer dolerites that are part of ore and coal seams.

It is a bluish-gray, basalt-like igneous rock. Hence its other name - blue stone.

Dolerites, two meters high, form the inner circle of the megalithic structure.

Although the blue stones of Stonehenge are not very high, it is in them, archaeologists believe, that the secret meaning of the entire structure lies.

Scientists' controversy

The first thing that archaeologists unanimously agreed on was the geological origin of the dolerites: their homeland is the Preseli Mountains. But as to why the ancient ancestors of the Celts needed to move dolerite boulders, the opinions of scientists differed. The controversy was mainly caused by the following question: did people from the new Stone Age really drag the boulders to the place where the megalith was built with their own hands, or did the stones displace by themselves - as the glaciers moved in the Quaternary period, i.e. long before man appeared?

The end of the controversy was only very recently. At an international conference, glaciologists announced the results of their many years of research, which boiled down to the fact that there had never been large glacial movements in the Stonehenge area.

So archaeologists could already conduct excavations in full confidence that the movement of megalithic boulders was the work of man. But answers to many other questions have not yet been found.

Stages of construction of Stonehenge

From the Preselian Mountains to Stonehenge in a straight line - 220 km. But, as you know, the direct path is not always the shortest. So in this case: taking into account the exorbitant weight of the "load", it was necessary to choose not the shortest, but the most convenient way.

In addition, appropriate vehicles had to be built.

It is known that in the new Stone Age people knew how to gouge boats out of tree trunks - they were the main means of transport. Indeed, recently archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient trimaran, which consisted of three seven-meter long dugout boats, fastened with crossbars.

Such a trimaran could well be operated with the help of poles by six people. As for the four-ton boulders, the same six rowers were able to load them onto the trimaran using levers. The sea route along the gentle shores of Wales was the most convenient, and there were plenty of secluded bays, in case of bad weather.

However, part of the way had to be overcome by land. And this required hundreds of pairs of hands. First of all, the "load" had to be loaded onto skids and pulled along the tree trunks cleared of twigs, laid across the path, like rollers. Each block was dragged by at least two dozen people.

And one more important detail: in order to avoid autumn and spring storms, stones were transported from the beginning of May to the end of August. This required not only a huge number of working hands, but also sweeping, since the only tools in those distant times were wooden poles, stone axes and levers, not counting wooden rollers and canoes. In addition, belts - leather, linen or hemp - served as an indispensable help.

The wheel was not yet known at that time. People also have not yet learned how to tame horses. This means that there were no carts either - they appeared much later, in the Bronze Age. Meanwhile, the people of the new Stone Age already widely used bulls as a draft force. And the people themselves were united in a well-organized community.

The people who went to mine the stone, of course, were guided by some great motivation: the stone miners knew that if they did not return empty-handed, then honor and glory awaited them, since they also made their feasible contribution to the construction of the sanctuary. And this, in turn, meant that they were fulfilling a sacred mission. For young men, for example, such a trip was a kind of test preceding initiation into men.

It is not hard to guess that the path of the stone miners was long and difficult. Some of them died on the way. The waterway was especially dangerous - mainly due to storms, headwinds and currents. Moreover, the boats moved forward very slowly: after all, they were controlled, as we remember, with the help of poles or primitive strokes. However, the land route also required colossal efforts. This is understandable: it is much more difficult to move multi-ton boulders on land than on water.

In the fall, the blue stones were finally delivered by river to a place located three kilometers from Stonehenge - and the miners returned home. And the "cargo" remained on the shore until the next summer: the stones were installed invariably on the day of the summer solstice. It was then, in fact, that the long "sacred path" ended.

On the day of the ceremony, before sunrise, the last stage was completed: to Stonehenge along a special road - "avenue" - a solemn procession was going. This road, fourteen meters wide, was bordered on both sides by ditches and embankments. It stretched upward in an arc, facilitating the ascent to the sacred hill, and led strictly to the east - where the sun rises.

Some of the stones at Stonehenge form straight rows pointing towards the rising and setting of the sun and moon. Probably, for the ancients this was of vital importance: they should have known exactly the days when the spirits of their departed ancestors should have been worshiped.

As we already know, the dolerites transported to Stonehenge were used in the construction of the first fence - it was erected around 2500 BC. By that time, Stonehenge was already considered an ancient monument. Five centuries earlier, the sanctuary was surrounded by a moat, fencing it from the outside with an earthen rampart about 100 m wide.

During the third phase of construction - around 2000 BC - huge triliths were installed at Stonehenge. At the same time, 30-ton aeolian pillars were delivered to the construction site - they had to be dragged 30 km from Stonehenge.

The most ambitious phase of construction began with the delivery of blue menhirs. By that time, the dolerite belt, which was never completed, was destroyed - probably in order to make way for another structure, for the construction of which much more effort was required.

So, in some four hundred years, the blue stones disappeared altogether. However, around 2000 BC, they were in the same place. And today, just by them, we can judge how it was Stonehenge in its original form.

However, not all archaeologists believe that dolerites, as a building material, disappeared for as long as four hundred years. Traces of them have been found in other monumental structures of that time: for example, on Mount Silbury, the tallest man-made hill from the New Stone Age, located 40 km north of Stonehenge. At its summit, a dolerite fragment was discovered, which, apparently, was once part of a cromlech.

Stonehenge Mystery

When they began to study Stonehenge and the surrounding lands in detail, it turned out that even more ancient structures are hidden under the traces of modern civilization in the "Sacred Landscape" area.

To the north of Stonehenge, in the Ogbourne area near the village of Avebury, an even more grandiose object was discovered. This is a giant circle, bounded by a stone palisade of vertically standing monolithic slabs. In the middle of the large circle there are two more, also outlined by stones. The main circle is crossed by an alley, also marked with boulders.

On both sides, it cuts through the entire structure, as if going out to the opposite edge of the large ring. The contours of the rings of stone blocks are clearly visible despite the fact that a residential area was superimposed on the ancient structure. Some stones in Avebury are larger than the blocks of Stonehenge in size, the area occupied by the rings is also incomparably larger.

Stonehenge - Silbury Hill - Avebury form an equilateral triangle, the side of which is 20 kilometers. Apparently, all three objects constituted a single whole, the corners of which are interconnected. Scientists have established that the hill and the Avebury structures were erected 2000 years before Stonehenge.

And again there are guesses, hypotheses, assumptions. What, for example, are ancient symbols associated with the circles and alleys of Stonehenge? There was also an analogue. Most of all, the structure resembles an ancient symbol that exists in Egypt to this day, a snake (a symbol of wisdom) crosses the solar disk. A stone-fenced alley crosses a large circle (symbolizing a solar disk), edged with a palisade of stones.

A real sensation in recent years has been made by the extraordinary activity of UFOs in this particular area and the appearance of a large number of pictograms in the grain fields.

It is tempting to assume that the inhabitants of distant worlds remind us of themselves and of the historical significance of Stonehenge.

In the English county of Wiltshire, a favorite place for tourists is the famous - a quaint stone structure. The blocks are in the shape of a circle, some of them are covered with slabs on top. There are also several structures inside the circle, forming a smaller circle. This archaeological site was officially included in the World Heritage List in 1986, because it still raises a lot of questions and controversy about its origin.

This building has an old name - "Dance of the Giants". The exact year of the appearance of Stonehenge is unknown to anyone, therefore the estimated period is quite wide - from 3020-2910 BC. NS. One thing is clear - it was built for many centuries, and many peoples of that time had a hand in this.

All Stonehenge stones are very different, not only in the nature of origin, but also in weight. The heaviest are up to 50 tons. That is why there are doubts that the monument is the work of mankind, because such heavy blocks had to be moved for many years to the construction site. However, according to legend, Stonehenge in memory of the battle with the Saxons in exactly one night managed to build Merlin - the main sorcerer of the Britons.

The exact destination of Stonehenge is an interesting question for archaeologists and researchers. According to some, the stones personified the cult of the Sun. Others are convinced that the stones were necessary for the purposes of astronomy. There is one more assumption - the energy of the majestic stones could be used to treat sick people who came here from all over the world. The second version is more plausible - many tourists saw with their own eyes how on the day of the summer solstice the sun rises just over the Heel stone, which is located at the entrance to the stone circle.

Not so long ago, researchers discovered several religious monuments near Stonehenge, so a new assumption has appeared that the stone structure is only a small part of a large complex of sacrificial sites and holy places. By the way, over the centuries, the monument has been constantly restored to maintain it, so it visually differs somewhat from its original appearance. At the same time, the scope of the restoration was quite impressive, which caused a lot of criticism, even special investigations were carried out to determine whether the overall picture of the monument was not violated.

You can get to the stone monument by ordering, you will need to drive about 130 km. During the excursion, you can learn more about the secrets and secrets of this unusual place, as well as make unforgettable souvenir photos that will definitely become the pride of your home album.

Legends are not only made about this monument, but films are also made. In 2010 alone, two documentaries were released at once. Therefore, before visiting Stonehenge, you can watch a couple of films in order to show your knowledge during the tour.

Stonehenge will be quite an interesting place to visit if you are interested in the mysteries of nature. Surely the greatness of these huge stones will amaze any traveler and make you wonder about the origin of the famous Stonehenge again.

Already at the dawn of the development of civilizations, people began to build grandiose structures, which later became known throughout the world. Cromlech Stonehenge in Great Britain, whose age is only slightly behind the famous Egyptian pyramids, was no exception.

What is Stonehenge? History and interesting facts

Cromlech is an ancient structure of stones placed vertically, forming one or more circles. Stonehenge in England belongs to this type of ancient buildings.

Despite all its greatness and antiquity, Stonehenge could not get into the classic list of wonders of the world. And in general, there is no mention of him in the works of Greek and Roman scientists, apparently the piles of stones did not delight the people of that time.

Sketch of the late 19th century

Local residents were legendary about the construction of the Stonehenge complex. Its construction was attributed to both Merlin and the antediluvian giants. The inhabitants of ancient Great Britain called this building the "Dance of the Giants".

Research into cromlech Stonehenge began during the reign of King James I. And in 1655, the first book dedicated to this building, by the author John Webb, was published. In the 60s of the XX century, astronomer Gerald Hawkins put an end to the research of Stonehenge. He showed that this stone ring could be used as a very accurate observatory, allowing the ancient British to make astronomical observations and calculations.

Reconstruction by William Steunkley

Stonehenge's construction time is estimated to be between 1900 and 1600. It took more than one century to erect it and the labor of a very large number of people, although in those days there were not many people in Great Britain. On the Salisbury Plains in those days, several peoples were seen at once: the Windmillhill people, the Beekers, the Wesseks. Now it is impossible to say for sure who built Stonehenge from them. Some researchers suggest that all these peoples had a hand in the construction of the structure.

How was Stonehenge built?

Stonehenge stones used in construction are of different nature. This is dolerite, volcanic lava, and volcanic tuff. There are sandstone and limestone. An analysis of the terrain showed that some of the stones were delivered from a site located 210 kilometers from the construction site. They could be delivered both by water and on skating rinks. There have even been studies that have shown that a group of 24 people can move a stone weighing one ton one kilometer per day. The heaviest stones were brought here from a closer place, 30 kilometers away. The largest stones weigh up to 50 tons. The ancient builders could deliver such blocks only in a few years.

The stones were processed in several stages. By the method of impact and treatment with fire and water, the necessary stones were prepared for transportation. And already on the spot, fine processing and grinding were carried out.

Reconstruction

The process of installing cromlech stones at Stonehenge in England is also interesting. So before laying the "brick", a hole was dug, sheer on three sides and sloping on the other. The hole was lined with stakes and a stone was rolled over them. Then, with the help of ropes, the monoliths were lifted and dug in. But if everything is clear with vertical stones, then the question remains how the crossbars were installed. It was assumed that for their erection, embankments were made, along which blocks were dragged. But such work would have taken more time than the construction of the entire complex, and no traces of the embankments being erected were found. Another assumption is that the stones were raised using logs. Logs were placed, and a stone was dragged onto them. A higher pile of logs was erected nearby, and the stone climbed on it, etc.

It is estimated that the construction took 300 years of continuous work by thousands of people. Of course, the question comes up of why Stonehenge was built and why such heavy efforts were needed. Some archaeologists assume that the ancient British had a cult of the Sun, while others only talk about using the complex in astronomical calculations.

Stonehenge attracts crowds of tourists. This happens especially on the day of the summer solstice. On this day, the Sun rises exactly over the Heel Stone, which once again confirms the guesses about using Stonehenge as an ancient observatory. The capabilities of this stone circle even make it possible to predict eclipses.

And although Stonehenge was not included in the list of ancient wonders of the world, the skill of its construction is not inferior to the famous buildings and attracts the views of millions of people every year.

Basic moments

Stonehenge is located in an area with many prehistoric finds. Stonehenge is considered a mysterious and magical place; various modern sects gather here, including the followers of the Druids. Ever since Stonehenge was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, efforts have been made to prevent the inevitable environmental damage caused by the 800,000 tourists who come here every year.

At the moment, visitors are prohibited from entering the fence, which encloses the structure in a wide ring. For tourists, there is still a not very powerful service center here.

16 kilometers north of Salisbury, 3.5 kilometers west of Amesbury;
Tel .: 0870-3331181;
Apr - Oct .: 10:00 - 18:00, Nov. - March: 09:00 - 16:00;
Entrance: 8 GBP;
children (5-15 years old): 4.80 GBP;
students and retirees: 7.20 GBP;
family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): 20.80 GBP.

Stonehenge construction

The construction of Stonehenge is divided into three main periods with a total duration of about 2000 years. At the burial site and the cult site there are megaliths - huge blocks of stone, reminiscent of the same stones in other parts of Europe. The megaliths of Stonehenge are vertical and have transverse ceilings, which distinguishes them from other structures of this kind.

During the first period of construction, approx. 3100 BC, a round ditch was dug and a rampart was poured. For the shaft, the soil taken out of the ditch was used.

The second period began sometime after 2500 BC, when the first megaliths were installed in their place, and the entrance on the northeastern side of the circle was moved so that it was pointed exactly at sunrise. Until now, archaeologists are amazed at the accuracy with which ancient astronomers identified this place.

The third period began after 2000 BC. Additional multi-ton megaliths were installed, forming the so-called "Sarsen ring". It consists of 30 sandstone blocks 4.25 m high and each weighing 25 tons, laid in a circle with a diameter of 30 m. The limestone blocks, each weighing 7 tons, have been precisely hewn to form overlapping vertical blocks. They were attached to the top of the supports using a system of spikes and grooves. Joints of this kind correspond to the culture and state of the art of the Bronze Age. In the center of the circle there are five more triliths, arranged in the form of a horseshoe.

Scientists believe that these granite blocks, some of them weighing 4 tons, were dragged by builders from the Preseli Hills in South Wales, and this is 400 km from here. Set in pairs, the stones are topped with equally gigantic slabs. Inside the smaller circle are two more horseshoe-like structures, one next to the other, and in the center is the so-called altar, or altar stone. There are other stones nearby.

As for the question of how the people of the Bronze Age managed to transport, process and install these huge stones - especially the megaliths brought over 320 km away - it is clear that this would require a high level of organization of labor. But given an important goal, Bronze Age leaders had the power to plan and carry out such work for decades. The technology of the time, including rollers, levers and rafts, allowed such construction to be carried out.

Appointment

The position of each block, vertical support and overlap is strictly adjusted to the position of the sun on the days of the summer and winter solstices. The two inner "horseshoes" are oriented towards sunrise and sunset on the days of the summer and winter solstices. It is obvious that the builders attached great importance to this, but the meaning and purpose of the structures are still unknown to experts. Scientists have no confidence that Stonehenge served as an astronomical laboratory. It is much more likely to use it as a religious center. In the middle there is a green stone altar. Other blocks located in the inner circle are called "blue stones". It is a special kind of basalt, mined in Wales, 380 km away. It is difficult to understand how such multi-ton boulders could be transported over such a distance, having at their disposal the means of the Bronze Age. According to the theory of archaeologist Aubrey Barle, they were not transported from place to place at all: supposedly, these blue stones were brought here by an ancient glacier. However, according to legend, the stones were brought to Stonehenge by the great sorcerer Merlin.

Stonehenge myths have lived on for generations, and this amazing place continues to draw crowds of visitors. No one is allowed to enter the inner circle of the megaliths, only twice a year, on the day of the summer and winter solstices, English druids perform their Celtic rites here.

Stonehenge is still a mystery to archaeologists and history buffs. A wide variety of theories have been put forward, but none of them has been fully proven.

Facts

• Age: The first traces of religious practices date back to 8000 BC.
• Stages of construction: First period - 3100 BC; the second - 2500 BC; the third - 2000 BC
• Duration of construction: In general, the construction took about 2000 years.

Stonehenge is one of the most popular and most visited British tourist attractions. Archaeologists have been exploring this place for many years, but the mystery remains unsolved, despite the abundance of more or less plausible versions.

What is Stonehenge?

This is one of the most ancient, strange and amazing structures on our planet. This stone complex consists of 83 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks (each weighing about 25 tons) and five huge 50-ton stones. The stones are located on an area about 100 meters in diameter, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. Using the radiocarbon method, it was found that the ramparts and the moat were dug about 5 thousand years BC.

In the center of the structure is the Altar Stone, which is surrounded by five pairs of stones with triliths (lintels at the top). These stones form a "horseshoe" with the open side facing east. The horseshoe is surrounded by a ring of blue stones. Further, there is another stone ring with a diameter of 33 meters. It is surrounded by two rows of holes. Another circle of holes is located closer to the earthen rampart (the so-called "Orbi holes").

Boulders differ in material. This is not particularly noticeable in the video and photo of Stonehenge, but close up it is absolutely obvious that the stones are dissimilar. The blue stones, which acquire their characteristic color in the rain, stand out especially. However, it will not be possible to approach them at this time - in bad weather they are not allowed to visit the monument.

Stacked stone arches indicate the cardinal points. Therefore, according to one of the theories, in ancient times this building was used as an observatory.

Who Built Stonehenge?

The history of Stonehenge dates back several millennia. Scientists have not yet come to a common conclusion when they began to build these stone structures. A number of historians are inclined to believe that the monument to the megaliths was erected about 3 thousand years BC. Others believe that the monument appeared much later - around 2200 BC. Archaeological excavations indicate that at least 2.5 thousand years BC, there were already burials on this site.

A version is also being put forward that the building was erected in several stages. The recesses for the installation of stones were dug 3.5 thousand years BC. The first circle was built around 2000, and the construction of the second circle dates back to 1100 AD.

The construction work is estimated to have taken about four centuries in total. Before installation, the stones of Stonehenge were carefully polished. The walls of the pits were lined with logs. The giant blocks were brought to an upright position with the help of ropes. But there is still no logical explanation for how the multi-ton horizontal beams were installed. Proposals are being put forward that they could be lifted along special earth embankments or with the help of log stacks. But given the enormous weight, it looks too incredible.

The question of transporting stones is also covered with mystery. Some researchers believe that the monoliths were brought from Avebury, located 30 km away. The largest stone circle in Europe is located in this place. And the blue sandstone, which lined the inner circle, was brought from the territories of modern Wales. One of the researchers, Mike Parker Pearson, is sure that this was done purposefully and symbolized the unification of the peoples who inhabited the south of England at that time.

According to another hypothesis, people did not transport stones at all, and the monoliths ended up here due to the movement of the glacier. But the discovered ancient quarries testify in favor of the first version. Scientists have experimentally tried to check whether the transportation of monoliths is possible. And it turned out that small megaliths up to two tons are quite easy to move on runners. Other assumptions were put forward about the methods of transportation: with the help of rollers, the method of "walking stones" and even by water.

Research continues to this day and sheds some light on the distant past. Perhaps, in the near future, the mystery and mysteries of Stonehendjab will be completely open, because the most modern methods are used to reveal them.

Legends and myths

Of course, such an unusual place could not fail to give rise to many legends. Since no one could give a rational explanation for the construction of the stone monument, the construction of Stonehenge was attributed to giants who lived before the Flood, cyclops, aliens and even the wizard Merlin. The latest version is the most popular in the British Isles.

According to ancient Celtic legends, this stone complex “built itself”. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that this monument was erected by the king of the Celtic tribe Britons Aurelius Ambrosi in honor of the 460 British, who were treacherously killed by the Saxons during the negotiations.

There is also a version that Stonehenge was a sacred place for the Druids. But the description of the Druids in the book of Julius Caesar "The Gallic War", as well as other ancient Greek and Roman sources, do not contain any mention of this place.

The reconstruction of the object contributed to the emergence of an "alien" version. To avoid erosion, some stones were “preserved” with a concrete “jacket”. Subsequently, the concrete chipped off, and those who did not know about the restoration work carried out rushed to attribute the construction of Stonehenge to aliens. Which, in general, is quite logical: if the Celts did not know how to make concrete, then someone delivered it to them. The answer suggests itself - of course, space aliens :)

• The increased interest in the stone monument among the general public arose only at the beginning of the 20th century. Until then, only archaeologists, historians and mystics were interested in boulders.
• The restoration of the stone complex took 65 years - from 1900 to 1965. Before the restoration work, some of the stones were already chaotically scattered, and according to studies, the monument was repeatedly rebuilt and deliberately destroyed in ancient times, in particular, in the Roman period.
• Not everyone agreed with the restoration layout of the boulders. In particular, Christopher Chayppindale, who at the time was the curator of the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, argued that the stones were not located in the places where they were originally.
• Duncan Steele, a British astronomer, in 1995 put forward a version that the structure had an astronomical purpose and made it possible for earthlings to avoid a cosmic catastrophe. Also, this hypothesis was proved by another scientist, Gerald Hawkins. But he did not discard the theory of the occult use of place.
• The monument was privately owned for a long time. The owner of Stonehenge was Henry XVIII, and later - the royal nobility.
• In 1915, the stone complex was acquired by the millionaire Cecil Chubb. But the wife, whom he gave the ancient monument, was not happy, so three years later, Chubb decided to make this luxurious gift to the British people.
• The land on which Stonehenge is located was put up for auction after the First World War.
• The novel "The Worm" by writer John Fowles is set in this mysterious place.
• Nearby is one of the world's largest mounds with a height of 40 meters, which is considered the same age as Stonehenge.
• The monument, together with the surrounding area, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Where is Stonehenge located?

Stonehenge is located in Great Britain, England, near the city of Amesbury - this is the nearest settlement (distance about 3.5 km).

The facility is open to the public from 9.00 to 20.00 (ticket sales end at 18.00). The ticket will cost 16.5 British pounds for adults and 9.9 GBP for children. For this money, you can see the attraction at a distance, because of the rope fence. They also conduct individual tours in the evening and dawn time - this is the only opportunity to go directly to the relic and touch the ancient stones with your own hands.

Allocate a whole day for the trip, because the road takes a lot of time (about two hours one way), and besides Stonehenge itself, I think you will want to visit the local museum - there are also many interesting things to do.

There are several options for how to get to Stonehenge:

In any case, it’s faster in time, since you don’t need to go to Salisbury, wait there for a bus to Stonehenge, and almost make your way back.

However, whichever option you choose - it's worth it. Seeing with your own eyes one of the most famous and biggest mysteries on the planet is an unforgettable experience!