Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales
© Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Image
A haven for broken hearts. Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales
Ynys Llanddwyn is a tiny tidal island which, at low tide, is attached to the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. Ynys means 'island' in Welsh and Llanddwyn means 'the church of Dwynwen,' the country's patron saint of lovers.
Legend has it that Dwynwen, a 5th-century Welsh princess, sought solace on this island after a tragic love story. The young woman fell in love with a commoner, but because her royal father forbade the union—and briefly turned her beloved into a block of ice—she moved to the island and set up a convent. She dedicated her life to spirituality, living as a hermit and helping others with matters of the heart. The ruins of Dwynwen's church, a well, and a convent remain on Ynys Llanddwyn and St. Dwynwen's Day, on January 25, is the most romantic day in Wales—the country's very own Valentine's Day.
Related Images
Zebras in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Gerenuk in Tsavo National Parks, Kenya
Gelada monkeys in Simien Mountains National Park, northern Ethiopia
Swift fox pups in Grasslands National Park near Val Marie in Saskatchewan, Canada
Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle, Isle of Man
An old farm in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Glastonbury Tor and St. Michael's Tower in England for the start of the Glastonbury Festival
Hope Valley, Peak District, England
Bing Today Images
