This panorama was taken in the ground behind the Abbey House in Cerne Abbas and shows some of the little that remains of the Benedictine Abbey around which the village grew.

Ruins of Cerne Abbas Abbey - Cerne Abbas visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Ruins of Cerne Abbas Abbey' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dorset.

Cerne Abbas, a small village in Dorset, grew up around a large Benedictine Abbey that was founded here in the 10C. The Abbey secured an important place for the village during the time it existed. However, in 1539, the Abbey was taken over by Henry VIII and mostly destroyed. The little that remains can be seen between the trees towards the north in this panoramic image.

Today, most people visit Cerne Abbas to see the famous chalk figure of the Cerne Abbas Giant carved on a hillside just to the north of the village. A path leading to the giant starts off near the ruins, passing through a graveyard before leaving the village. While the abbey was destroyed, St. Mary's Church, which was founded in the 14C, remains and is worth a visit.

Take the A37 north from Dorchester and then the A352 through Charminster. This road continues Goldmanstone and other small villages to Cerne Abbas.