Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
10 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
10 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
11 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
12 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Wales Pembrokeshire St. Govan's Chapel

St. Govan's Chapel

A hermit's tiny cell built into the cliffside that saved him in South Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Added By
Julie Myers
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
St. Govan’s chapel.   David Skinner
St. Govan’s chapel.   David Skinner
St. Govan’s chapel.   Anthony Gostling
St. Govan’s Chapel is nestled between two cliff faces.   Kevin Antony
Inside St. Govan’s Chapel.   David Skinner
Inside St. Govan’s Chapel.   N Chadwick
April 23   DMStephenson / Atlas Obscura User
Taken in August 2017   jmorris9979 / Atlas Obscura User
Taken in August 2017   jmorris9979 / Atlas Obscura User
St. Govan’s Chapel.   Colin Park
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

St. Govan lived his life as a hermit in a cliffside cave in Wales, and those willing to make the steep hike can still visit his mystical hermitage by the sea.

The history of St. Govan is murky at best. It's believed he was an Irish abbott living in the 6th century, though other more fanciful stories describe him as a thief. Some even believe that "Govan" is a mutation of "Gawain," a legendary knight from the court of King Arthur who was said to have receded into hermitic life in his final years.

Whoever he was, Govan was en route to Wales when he was attacked by Irish pirates off the coast. Govan ran to the cliffside, where the rock allegedly morphed into a secret cave for him to hide in. After his pursuers left, Govan decided to remain in the cave as thanks to God and to the cliffside that saved him. He set up a monastic hermitage in the cove, living off the nature surrounding, and remained there for the rest of his life.

In the century following, the cove became an important site of worship known as St. Govan's Head. The spring which the saint took his water from was said to cure ailments of the limbs and eyes. Sometime in the 13th or 14th century a small stone chapel was erected on the site. It still stands there today, measuring roughly 20 feet by 12 feet, containing nothing but a bench and a small altar, which Govan (or perhaps Gawain?) is said to be buried beneath. Nearby is a well which took from the miraculous spring, now dry, which people still cast wishes upon. 

Related Tags

Wells Churches Saints Cliffs Caves Ecosystems Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

To find the chapel, go through Bosherston village, and follow the brown sign south for one mile to the parking on the top of the cliff.

This route travels through an active firing range, access is prohibited when the red flags are flying.

From the car park, the chapel is a short walk down a number of steep steps cut into a cleft between the rocks.

Community Contributors

Added By

jemm501

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, jooniur, jmorris9979, DMStephenson

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • jooniur
  • jmorris9979
  • DMStephenson

Published

March 28, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=J64vAAAAYAAJ&dq=st.%20govan%27s%20chapel&pg=PA805#v=onepage&q=st.%20govan's%20chapel&f=false
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Govan's_Chapel
  • http://www.kingarthursknights.com/theland/stgovenschapel.asp
  • http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/95059/details/st-govans-chapel
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=qcOwIMflx7AC&lpg=PA435&dq=St.%20Govan%27s%20Chapel&pg=PA21-IA1#v=onepage&q=St.%20Govan's%20Chapel&f=false
  • http://www.orthodoxchurch.co.uk/St_Govans_Chapel.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Govan
St. Govan's Chapel
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Pembrokeshire, Wales
United Kingdom
51.59875, -4.936842
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wogan Cavern

Pembroke, Wales

miles away

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

Pembroke Dock, Wales

miles away

Dobby's Grave

Castlemartin, Wales

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire

Wales

Places 4

Nearby Places

Wogan Cavern

Pembroke, Wales

miles away

Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre

Pembroke Dock, Wales

miles away

Dobby's Grave

Castlemartin, Wales

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire

Wales

Places 4

Related Places

  • Church of the Annunciation

    Haute-Isle, France

    Troglodyte Church

    The Church of the Annunciation was carved into the face of a cliff, just like the rest of the town of Haute-Isle.

  • Chiesetta di Piedigrotta.

    Pizzo, Italy

    Chiesetta di Piedigrotta (Church of Piedigrotta)

    This church carved into the rocks is full of enchanting stone statues.

  • Dale Abbey, England

    Hermits Cave at Dale Abbey

    Inspired by a dream, a hermit carved out a home in this sandstone bank to live a life of contemplation and prayer.

  • Santa Caterina del Sasso

    Leggiuno, Italy

    Santa Caterina del Sasso

    This monastery built into a cliff hides a perfectly preserved hermit in a glass coffin.

  • The church tucked within a cave.

    Asturias, Spain

    Holy Cave of Covadonga

    A historic Christian shrine nestled within a spectacular natural cave.

  • Hermitage of Poggio Conte, dug in the tuff.

    Ischia di Castro, Italy

    Eremo di Poggio Conte (Poggio Conte Hermitage)

    A dreamlike medieval church dug into the tuff rock, with unusual carvings and possible traces of the Templar knights.

  • The modern chapel.

    Saint Davids, Wales

    St. Non’s Chapel and Well

    The remains of a small medieval chapel mark the legendary birthplace of the patron saint of Wales.

  • Pskov-Caves Monastery.

    Pechory, Russia

    Pskov-Caves Monastery

    This 15th-century cave complex is one of the very few monasteries to stay open throughout World War II and the Soviet regime.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.