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King Arthur & The Round Table
'Myth or Legend'
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Although Arthur' was
essentially Celtic by nature the chroniclers and story-tellers
of the Middle Ages made him 'all things to all kings, and knights
too' who subjected a vast European empire.
King Arthur's life is a tantalizing puzzle. Nothing points conclusively
to his reign in the 5th and 6th centuries, there are no eye-witness
accounts of his coronation, no unarguable manuscripts, no building
with 'Arthur was here' etched stone.The names, Merlin, Lancelot,
Guinevere, Galahad, Exalibur & the Knights of the Round Table
will inspire us to find the truth.
Join us on our quest.
'Anoeth bid bey y
Arthur'
The world's enigma, Arthur's grave
Welsh 9th or 10th Century
Examples
of Transport
Examples of Hotels
Day
1
Overnight
flight from the United States to London.
Day 2
Early
arrival at London airport, to be met by your Tour Director and Guest
Historian.
Traveling southwest we arrive at
the old Roman City of Venta Belgarum, now Winchester, which remained
England’s chief city to after the Norman Conquest.
Geoffrey of Monmouth mentions it a few times- Arthur fights
a battle with Modred here during the final struggle and Mallory
usually locates Camelot here. Perhaps the most famous object in the city is the Round Table.
This table housed in Castle Hall; measures 18 feet across, 2 3/4”
thick and has mortise holes for 12 legs. It weighs 1 1/4 tons.
There are twenty-four segments, one each allotted to the
knights whose names are around the rim.
Arthur’s place is where the picture of the king is seen at
the top.
Overnight in Wells
Welcome reception and overview of tour
Day
3
Beside
the main roads entering the little town of Glastonbury are signboards
welcoming you to ‘the ancient Avalon’ Glastonbury’s identity with that fabled
island, is hard to prove along with legends that the Holy Grail
was here and that Arthur & Guinevere are buried nearby. Today we will visit the Abbey, Chalice
Wells Gardens, the Museum in the Tribunal & Lady Chapel. About 50 feet from the south door
of Lady Chapel is the site of where Arthur is supposed to have been
buried. In the late
12th century the monks of the Abbey decided to search for the grave,
seven feet below the surface they unearthed a stone slab, with the
inscription; ‘Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle
of Avalon’
Before returning to our hotel there will be a chance for a brisk
walk up the Tor to view the surrounding countryside.
2nd night in Wells
Day
4
As
we drive south we visit the Peat Moors Centre, where we will be
able to see displays of life during medieval times. Leaving here we
drive to Cadbury Castle, the best known and most interesting of
the reputed sites of Camelot.
One theory about the name Cadbury is that it is a link with
Arthur, because it means ‘Cadwy’s Fort’ perhaps a connection with
a prince named Cadwy a friend of Arthur’s?
The fort is sited on an isolated hill 500 feet high; it has
four lines of bank and ditch defenses.
Other the past centuries many excavations have been carried
out here and only as recently as the 1950’s have pottery been found
that had been used at Tintagel, to link both sites together as Arthurian.
Tonight at King Arthur’s Castle Hotel, Tintagel in Cornwall
Day
5
Until
recently Arthur scholars scorned Tintagel, but now it is recognized
as a major sixth century site, probably used as a royal court in
summer months.
Today we will visit the legendary castle of Arthur, clinging precariously
to the edge of the cliff face. This castle now lying as a ruin
is approached via a narrow uphill road, the immediate reaction is
that it is on an island, its link with the mainland is a ridge of
rock that has crumbled forming a chasm. Crossing a fixed bridge
spanning the chasm you enter the castle.
Back in the village of Tintagel we visit The Old Post Office
located in a 14th century manor house before taking a
short walk along the cliffs with its magnificent views.
A stone enclosure to the south on Bodmin Moors is called Arthur’s
Hall or Arthur’s Hunting Lodge. Some rocky basins nearby are called
‘Arthur’s Troughs’ according to local lore, he fed his dogs in them.
2nd night in Tintagel
Day
6
An
embattled medieval castle surmounts the great granite crag that
rises from the waters of Mount Bay; St. Michael’s Mount has been
the home of the St.Aubyn family for over 300 years. Perhaps this was the site in Arthurian
legend of Tristan’s Land of Lyonesse, drowned beneath the sea?
Hotel tonight in Fowey
Day
7
As
we leave the West Country and head east towards London, we visit
the Tristan Stone and Castle Dore (King Mark’s fort).
Many debates have raged over the years about the site of the Battle
of Badon, a great Britsh victory over the Saxons. In Roman times the city of Bath
was called Aquae Sulis, however in Welsh Caerfaddon meaning city
of Baden. Bath is a strategically likely site for such battle.
Hotel tonight in Bath
Day
8
This
morning we will look at the Roman period and occupation by visiting
the heated baths, perhaps Arthur took the water?
A chance for some shopping in this beautiful Georgian city before
leaving for London after an early lunch.
Our route will take us southeast towards Stonehenge. This unique megalithic structure
owes it role in Arthurian legend according to Geoffrey of Monmouth.
He makes it out to be a memorial to 460 slain British nobles. Looking for a suitable design Merlin
was consulted and his advice accepted, the stones being stolen from
an existing site in Ireland.
What ever the answer is to why these stones are here, this
is a magical place to end your Arthurian tour. Hotel
tonight in central London.
Day
9
A
day of rest and relaxation on your own OR join us on a 4 hour sight
seeing trip around the sites of this old city, settled by the Romans
in 1st century AD.
Dinner as a group at a Medieval Banquet
Day
10
To
airport for am flight to the USA.
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