Travel guide Wales
It is one of the nations of the United Kingdom. Located in the southwest of the island of Great Britain, Wales - Wales in English, Cymru in Welsh - offers 1,200 km of coastline with seaside resorts, national nature parks, wild mountains and a wealth of heritage, including Cardiff, the capital, and preserved traditions. A student and cosmopolitan city, alternating futuristic architecture and historical monuments, Cardiff is particularly attractive. We must see the new Assembly building, made of glass and slate or the Millennium Centre, on the waterfront, a major cultural and artistic centre and, of course, Cardiff Castle, a jewel in the city centre. You have free access to seven national museums, including the National Museum dedicated to art and natural history. In Big Pit, you will discover the National Coal Museum, which evokes a local epic and allows you to go down into the mine with a miner 90 m underground. Three national parks await hikers and lovers of green biodiversity. The largest is Snowdonia at the foot of Mount Snowdon, which houses the huge natural lake of Llyn Tegid. Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park protects a spectacular coastline of beaches and cliffs. Finally, the peaceful Brecon Beacons National Park invites you to discover a wooded environment, bathed in rivers, waterfalls and waterfalls, with bat caves. Golfers can enjoy beautiful green golf courses and lovers of giant zip lines. For all, leaving for this destination with your travel guide is recommended.
What to see, what to do Wales?
-
Book an activity
-
Customized travel
- The most beautiful cities Wales
When to go Wales ?
When to go to Wales? You can stay in Wales all year round without worrying even if the seaside resorts are then dormant. But if you want to hike or enjoy the beach, it is better to come in summer. It is then the high tourist season. Winter is not without its charms, especially if you stay in a charming cottage. Autumn and winter are very humid, you will often have to protect yourself from the rain. In winter, temperatures are around 6°C. From April on, the weather is mild and the sun is generous.
Suggested addresses Wales
Travel Wales
-
Find a hotel
-
Car Rental
-
Travel Insurance
-
Find a local agency
Dans cette rubrique, nous vous proposons plusieurs idées de séjours : séjours courts, longs ou encore thématiques. Trois jours, c’est le temps idéal pour visiter une partie bien définie du pays, quitte à y revenir. Cet itinéraire vous permet d’apprécier Cardiff, la plus jeune des capitales européennes, des paysages grandioses, des châteaux et l’âme celtique. Un voyage d'une dizaine de jours à travers un cadre naturel unique suffira pour vous laisser séduire par la beauté et la richesse historique du pays de Galles. Impossible de ne pas proposer d’itinéraires vous entraînant le long des « castles », sur les pas du roi Arthur ou encore sur les traces de l'héritage industriel. Malgré sa petite taille (300 km du nord au sud), le pays de Galles possède des châteaux par centaines. Enfin, n'hésitez pas à lire ou relire nos dossiers thématiques qui vont donneront plus de détails sur les légendes et les châteaux.
Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners
How to go Wales
How to go alone
There is no difficulty in organizing your stay in Wales by yourself. Of course if you speak English it is better, at least easier. You can find hotels and homestays, as well as small and affordable restaurants. The ideal is to travel with a car that allows you to organize your itinerary and your time.
How to go on a tour
Travel agencies offer different formulas to stay in Wales from France, stays in Cardiff, itineraries to discover the national parks on footpaths, discovery of history, Welsh culture, golf stays, etc. Stays of 8 to 10 days are recommended.
How to get around
Due to the terrain, the road and rail routes from the north to the west take a detour to the east through England. Don't miss the chance to ride a steam train. The M4 freeway links London to South Wales, passing through Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, to Abraham Bridge where it joins the A48 to Carmarthen. If you rent a car, beware of driving on the left.
Featured articles Wales
Discover Wales
Sometimes referred to as the backbone of Wales, Powys offers a wide variety of landscapes. From the southern tip of Snowdonia to the Cambrian Mountains and the Welsh Marches, it forms the country's largest county, with Llandrindod Wells as its administrative center. A must-see is Hay-on-Wye, the world capital of second-hand books. Step back in time at Powis Castle, wander through the gardens and contemplate the surrounding countryside from this elevated vantage point. Walk to Elan Valley and contemplate this impressive natural site, its spectacular dam and unspoilt nature. Also an important part of Welsh history. Finally, you can discover the Brecon Beacons mountain range. Or experience the most eccentric event in Wales at Llanwrtyd Wells, where you can watch men race... against horses (mid-June)!
Pictures and images Wales
The 12 keywords Wales
1. #Castles
From the Norman castles of the south, imposing ruins, witnesses of a tormented era, to the castles of Edward I, on the north coast, erected to protect his lands, they are everywhere! Of all sizes, in all regions. Fortified, manor houses, romantic ruins. Many scattered ruins also punctuate the whole territory.
2. #Eisteddfod
These great festivals are true traditions and date back as far as the 10th century. Seven centuries later, at the instigation of Queen Elizabeth I who wanted to regulate the multiplication of wandering musicians, the Eisteddfod was made official and became a national and annual event, welcoming bards, storytellers, singers and minstrels.
3. #David
Saint David is the patron saint of the Welsh; he is the only Celtic saint to be canonized. Very little is known about his life. He led an austere life, dedicated to God. In the ninth century he was given the name "Aquarius" because he and his disciples drank only water. They were vegetarians, studied, worked the land and prayed.
4. #Dragon
The dragon has long been the emblem of Wales. A red dragon is also present on the Welsh flag, on a green and white background. In the 7th century, the Welsh hero Cadwaladr imported the dragon to Wales. Soon, the animal became the symbol of the country. Today, it is everywhere, on banners, T-shirts..
5. #Druids
Two families of druids remain. The first meets every year at the Royal Eisteddfod. It encompasses a heterogeneous group of Welsh people with either an important social function or a gift for poetry. The second group of druids tries to find the practices of the druids of the Celtic period because little knowledge remains
6. #Daffodil
One of the three symbols of Wales. The legend behind the daffodil celebration is charming and emblematic of Welsh pragmatism and humour. The Welsh word for leek is Cenhinen and the word for daffodil is Cenhinen Pedr. Over the years, the Welsh confused the two and the daffodil was adopted as the symbol of the country!
7. #Welsh language
Welsh, the Welsh language, is the heart language of Wales. The word welsh comes from the ancient English word wealh, which means 'foreigner'. This is how the Saxons referred to their Celtic neighbours. Spoken by half the population at the beginning of the century, Welsh is spoken by only 25% of the population today, but is still omnipresent
8. #Merlin the Enchanter
The Welsh say with conviction that the hero of our childhood would come from here. It is said that it was after 50 years of walking in the forest, with wild animals, that he acquired his clairvoyance skills. It is also in the forest that he is said to have seen a fight between two dragons, one white and one red, and that he predicted the victory of the second one!
9. #PrinceofWales
This title is entrusted to the heir to the throne of Great Britain. That Prince Charles has sought the love of the Welsh is a certainty! He's even learned Welsh. But on the day of his investiture at Caernarfon Castle, part of the public wore a badge stating "no Englishman can claim to be Prince of Wales" ...
10. #Pubs
More welcoming than a bistro and more intimate than a large café, the pub is much more than just a place to come and have a drink and is an integral part of Anglo-Saxon culture. It's a place to meet, to meet, to chat, always over a pint of beer. There are an impressive number of pubs all around the country
11. #Real Ale
British expression essential to know! It refers to beer brewed in the traditional way. Fermentation takes place naturally and produces a low gas content. Result: no need to add artificial gas. Many pubs serve real ales, often produced locally. Originally it was made without hops and drunk fresh.
12. #Rugby
More than an institution, it is a true religion that animates the Welsh people as a whole. The 15th of the Leek or the Red Devils are worshipped as gods in Wales and matches are an excuse to celebrate. If the occasion arises, don't miss a match at the stadium or pub!
You are from here, if...
You're not afraid of the rain! And you know that the weather changes very quickly.
For you, the last Prince of Wales will always remain Llywelyn, considered the hero reigning over the royal house in the 13th century and who defended the homeland until his execution in the year 1283.
You are not English! Don't be misled by geographical proximity. Here, people like to claim their Celtic origins. Criticism against these dear English neighbors is going strong. A tender war that reaches its climax on match nights. Besides, if France plays against England, there is a good chance that the Welsh are on the side of the French!
You know that the 11pm bell in the pub means it's time for the last round! And you've got your favourite pub, "the local", with your habits. The tradition of the Pub Quiz (general culture competition), a weekly event in many bars, is a must as the atmosphere is so unique.
Other destinations Wales
- Anglesey (Ynys My)
- Brecon Beacons
- Cardiff (Caerdydd)
- Carmarthenshire (Sir Caerfyrddin)
- Central
- Ceredigion
- Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tudful)
- Conwy (Sir Conwy)
- Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych)
- Flintshire (Sir There Fflint)
- Gwynedd
- Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy)
- Pembrokeshire
- Peninsula Of Gower (Penrhyn Gwyr)
- Newport (Casnewydd)
- Snowdonia
- TorFaen (Tor-Faen)
- Vale Of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg)