Wales is a small country with a big history. English kings, Welsh princes and Arthurian legends have combined here to produce some of the finest castles in Europe. And with more than 400 – from massive coastal forts to lonely hilltop bastions – it is no wonder that Wales is known as ‘The Land of Castles’.
the north
The most famous castles form a ring around North Wales (see Castle Tours). They were built by King Edward I of England in the late 13th century and today form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The biggest is Caernarfon Castle, with its grand towers and impressive walls. In contrast, just a few miles inland among the beautiful scenery of Snowdonia, is Dolbadarn Castle. Built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great, it stands on a remote hill above a lake, and is a much smaller and more romantic fort.
The south
Some of the castles in South Wales have more complex histories. Cardiff Castle was developed by the Normans on an ancient Roman fort. By the late 19th century it was owned by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, one of the richest men in the world at the time. He commissioned magnificent interiors within gothic towers – a fantasy of the Middle Ages as he imagined them to be. Today, this ‘Welsh Victorian Camelot’ has been restored and is an incredible experience.
Nearby is Castell Coch, a jewel of a medieval fort which was also transformed into a fairytale castle by the Marquess of Bute, while a short journey away is Caerphilly Castle, the second largest castle in Europe and famous for its leaning tower. And it is the proximity of such different types of building and what they represent – power, fantasy and romance – that makes the castles of Wales so unique.
Castle Tours
The Iron Ring: The four colossal castles of North Wales built by King Edward I are set in beautiful countryside and within easy driving distance of each other.
Starting with the eight dark towers of Conwy, travel west across the Menai Strait to the island of Anglesey and the perfect symmetry of Beaumaris. Back on the mainland, the next stop is Caernarfon. Allow plenty of time to explore its endless tunnels and staircases. A small detour from here into the mountains of Snowdonia National Park will take you to the romantic isolation of Dolbadarn Castle. Finally, a little way down the coast is Harlech, with its Welsh myths and fantastic views.
Myths and Legends
The castles of Wales have many myths and legends. Caernarfon Castle in particular is surrounded by myths of King Arthur and Merlin. King Edward I was aware of this and tried to draw comparisons between himself and Arthur when building his great castles. Some of the most famous romances of the Middle Ages are set in Wales, including the story of the Holy Grail.
Visiting Info
Many of the finest castles in Wales – including the ‘Iron Ring’ castles, plus Caerphilly, Chepstow and Castell Coch – are looked after by Cadw, part of the Welsh Government. Cadw offer 3-day or 7-day explorer passes, which can be used to visit as many historic sites as you can.
Intervista con un esperto (con audio): The Land of My Fathers: Wales