Stonehenge is the most famous prehistoric megalithic site in Europe, but little is known about the purpose of the ring of huge stones, topped by lintels. The site also includes a larger outer circle of stones, stones laid out in the shape of a horseshoe and a ditch.
It is thought Stonehenge was some sort of religious site, but what is most amazing is the fact that some of the 50-ton stones where moved there by hand from South Wales. Calculations show that it would take at least 600 people to drag a rock of that size even one inch.
The ruinous monument is aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. Access to the site is strictly regulated and only once a year, when New Age Druids celebrate the summer solstice, security is slightly loosened.
Construction of Stonehenge started around 3100 BC and is thought to have been completed between 2600 and 2400 BC. The site and its surrounding area were inscribed into UNESCO's list of world heritage sites in 1986.
Stonehenge is not far from the town of Amesbury. The nearest city of any size is Salisbury, which is a good place to stay when visiting the site. Stonehenge is 120 km southwest of London.
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