Glastonbury Hotels - Smooth Hound Hotel Directory

Glastonbury is located in Somerset, just south of Bristol. The area is perhaps most well known for the legends that grew up around the Glastonbury Tor, which is the hill that rises up in the nearby area as well as Glastonbury Abbey. Each summer the Glastonbury Festival is held in the area, a music festival that attracts many each year. The Tor and the Abbey are the two top tourist attractions in Glastonbury. There are ample accommodation options located in Glastonbury as well as in the immediate area that will suit the needs of visitors touring the local area.

Glastonbury is a town steeped in myth and legend, and these mythological influences are still plain to see even to this day with one of the most prevalent legends surrounding the town is the tale of the Holy Grail. After the death of Jesus Christ a chalice was filled with his blood intended to be kept as a holy relic which was later stolen and held to ransom by a pagan king with the Grail itself brought over from Jerusalem by Joseph.

The Holy Grail legend, and in particular Joseph plays a very prominent role in the development of the town, for example, a type of plant which is indigenous to the town of Glastonbury (the Glastonbury Thorn) is said to have been created when Joseph planted his staff into the ground.

For those of us who prefer more credible and realistic historical accounts, then a trip to the Somerset Rural Life Museum is certainly a good idea as it charts the evolution of farming within the county of Somerset during the Victorian era. With interactive displays, genuine historical relics and artefacts, the Somerset Rural Life Museum is fun for all the family.

Another prominent landmark of the town of Glastonbury is the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, which is a rather sad tribute to a once beautiful building. Sadly, the Abbey suffered a great deal of damage during the black era of English history, known as the Dissolution where religious persecution and sectarianism was endemic throughout the land. The fate of Glastonbury Abbey was one shared by many religious buildings.