The ruins of the Gallen priory are in the grounds of a nursing home. We drove for about 500 metres along the lane of this institution and just before the nursing home we found the remains of the priory. The priory dates from the 12th century, and it was built on the site of a 5th century monastery. The only remaining parts of the religious building are the north and south foundation walls. The two tall walls at the east and west end of the ruins have been recontructed. The amazing thing of this place is the huge amount of cross and grave slabs and fragments dated from the 9th to the 11th century all grouped in the same frame on the west side of the east wall. Some of them are absolutely amazing. On the east side of the west wall there's only a single and small cross slab. Between the two walls, on the ground, there's a large upright slab richly decorated with a cross, animal figures and celtic knots and other motifs. This tall slab is 3.5 metres west from the east wall, and it's 1.65 metres tall, 70 centimetres wide and 20 centimetres thick. On the north wall footing there's a small pillar with a marigold cross carved on it. And among the four walls, on the ground, there's also a bullaun stone.
|