"Downpatrick is one of the most important ecclesiastical sites in western Europe. It’s named after Ireland’s Patron saint, Patrick. In town, you’ll find St. Patrick’s final resting place on the location of a monastery that dates to the 1100s.This isn’t just a religious pilgrimage, though. The nearby Saint Patrick Centre tells the story of the man who drove the snakes out of Ireland, but it also situates that story in the history of pre-Christian Ireland. You’ll learn about how monastic sites in Ireland, just like Downpatrick, were the sole havens of learning during the Dark Ages and eventually restored enlightenment to Europe. If that’s not your thing, Downpatrick is also the home of Ireland’s only remaining mainline steam engine." - MATADOR_NETWORK
