SaintFamous
Collen and the Fairy King
Red for burning, blue for cold. Then only grass.
Stand where it happened
- What's there
- Hill with roofless church tower
- Legend from
- Medieval Welsh Life of St Collen
- Tone
- Curious
He climbed the hill at noon and found a castle that should not be there.
Glastonbury Tor is the steep hill above the town, crowned by the tower of St Michael's church. A Welsh saint's life says the hermit Collen lived nearby and refused to honour Gwyn ap Nudd, king of the fairies, who was said to live under the hill. Summoned at noon, Collen climbed the Tor with a flask of holy water. He found a splendid castle, minstrels, horsemen and a feast, and courtiers dressed in red and blue. Collen said the red meant burning and the blue meant cold. He threw the water, and everything vanished but the green hill.