Monuments to visit Ceredigion

From the impressive 13th century castle built by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, there are only two massive round towers left overlooking a gorge on the Teifi River. In 1215, the castle had been taken by Llywelyn the Great. Its superb location inspired many artists, including Turner in 1799. Cilgerran Castle offers very beautiful views when you climb up the tower, very easily accessible. Beautiful walks lead to the river from the castle. In summer, some activities are offered for children.

Aberystwyth, Wales' first university city, has a recognised university, which opened in 1872 in a former seaside hotel. It was the first British university to accept women, and also the first in the world to open a faculty dedicated to international politics. It ranks fourth in the United Kingdom for the quality of its teaching. It is divided into several buildings and 18 departments. The most impressive is undoubtedly the one built facing the sea.

It was one of the castles built by Edward I. Only the towers of the far north and south and some remains of the walls remain of the old fortress. The ruins are open-air, scattered on a green platform overlooking the sea. At the centre of this ensemble is the Gorsedd Stones Circle, where the opening ceremonies of Eisteddfod, a national festival of traditional Welsh singers and storytellers, took place. The thirteen erected stones each represent a county in Wales

It is impossible not to notice this building, exuberant with its round towers with pointed roofs, elaborate windows, balconies and arches.

In 1864, when the city of Aberystwyth was connected to the national railway network, Thomas Savin bought the building and transformed it into a hotel. He asked the architect J.P. Seddon to give this Victorian building a more "Gothic Revival" look. Take the time to enter and discover the pretty circular balcony and the carved wooden ceiling. This strange architecture is a very successful mix of styles

A visit to the National Library of Wales is a must for anyone interested in the country's history. The oldest manuscript in Welsh, the Black Book of Carmarthen, is on display. The library also holds the only copy of the first book printed in Welsh, Yn y lhyvyr hwnn, dating from 1546. As you can see, the library houses a priceless heritage of Welsh and Celtic literary treasures.