Tourist Attractions & Monuments Wales

The name comes from a legend that the devil tried to seduce monks from the top of this promontory inviting them to join him! It is a limestone pillar at the top of which we have a magnificent view of the abbey of Tintern, delimited by the hills and the river. We stand above the vacuum as on a base: impressive!

Distance: 5 km.

Average duration: 1 hour 30.

A friendly gallery that sells local crafts, jewellery, ashtrays and other pottery, watercolours of Chepstow views by artist David Jones and other local painters, miniatures and natural soaps reproducing the Welsh flag in relief, with its dragon ! The opportunity to find some original souvenirs to bring back and to discover and/or support both the local economy and local crafts and artists.

This small tourist information point, which also doubles as a museum store, provides tourist information on the region. If you have any questions or are looking for specific information, you'll find a warm and friendly welcome. The site also provides a wealth of comprehensive, practical information on places to visit, restaurants, hotels and activities (golf, children's activities, walking and cycling routes, etc.).

The foundation of this site as a holy place dates back to the 5th century. A stone church, built as early as the 9th century on this hill overlooking the town, bears witness to the important cult of St. Gwynllyw, the site's founder. "Woolos" is the Anglicism of the name of a Welsh nobleman who converted to Christianity after a divine vision. Remains of these earliest stones can be seen in the chapel at the west end of the cathedral. But most of the building was destroyed in the 15th century by the Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr, leader of his people's revolt for independence... The decapitated statue of Jasper Tudor, who helped rebuild the building after Owain's death, can be seen on the west facade and bears witness to the turbulent civil war.

Miraculously, some fine Romanesque arches remain in the cathedral's nave from these repeated assaults. A plaque commemorating the Chartists was also installed here. (Chartism was a British workers' emancipation movement of the mid-19th century. For more info, see the Pontypool page) The cathedral's website is also very instructive, since as well as providing information on the cathedral itself, it gives a chronology of the evolution of religion in the country. We learn, for example, that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the cathedral in 1962, and that restoration of the medieval roof was completed in 2017.

It's a handsome ^17th-century red-brick manor house, once home to the wealthy Morgan family. Move from room to room to discover, through reconstructions of interiors and genre scenes, what life might have been like for a bourgeois family of the time and its servants. Don't miss the gilded salon and the cedar cabinet with its fragrant panelling. You can visit the vast 36-hectare gardens, some of whose original features are still visible, such as geometric flowerbeds and a superb wrought-iron gate.

This cultural centre has a gallery that exhibits current artists, a cinema and a theatre. There are outdoor sculptures. The most famous is Peter Fink's, entitled Steel Wave: an imposing wave of steel breaking on the dock... which is not unanimously accepted! It evokes the industrial past of the port and the importance of metallurgy in the development of the city. On the way out, don't miss the discreet Deux Ex Machina, a human profile directed by Sebastien Boyeson that invites the viewer to live an amazing optical experience....

The museum houses an important collection of antiquities. One section is devoted to archaeology, tracing the passage of various peoples through these parts over the past 2,500 years. Artefacts from the Romans, Vikings and Normans can be found here.

The Natural History Museum has a highly developed geological section and a section devoted to zoology, with a fine taxonomic selection of seabirds.

Another gallery is devoted to the history of the town and its inhabitants during the industrial period. On display are domestic accessories from 200 years ago and documentation on the town's economic and social life. Of particular interest is the section devoted to the construction of the Transporter Bridge, with the engineer's original plans and impressive photographs of the building site, tracing the stages of its construction. The Transporter Bridge is a 197-meter-long, 74-meter-high metal bridge for pedestrians and vehicles. Opened on September 12, 1906, it was designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin. It has been closed several times over long periods for renovation.

The museum takes great care to be as didactic as possible. A must-see if you're in Newport.

And don't forget to visit the Art Gallery, devoted to the visual arts: it boasts a fine collection of decorative ceramics, with some very colorful works!

A visit to the mosaics is a fun way to discover the city's history.

Starting from the docks on Bristol Packet Wharf, you can discover a circular mosaic on the ground symbolizing the trading connections between Newport and Blaenavon, the main coal-mining center in the south of the country.

Then stroll down Commercial Street towards High Street, where you'll pass the covered market hall. On the traffic circle behind it, you'll discover a colorful mosaic of a flower market. Its naïve character, proliferation of flowers and vivid colors are reminiscent of the frescoes by Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Opposite, the Old Green Mural depicts the transportation routes (canals, railroads, etc.) without which the city's commercial development would have been impossible.

A little further out, in the Civic Centre on Fields Road, you'll also find a fresco, this time painted. It illustrates the history of Newport, from its foundations to 1964. Created by Hans Feibusch in the 1960s, its triptych structure and the high quality of its composition and colors make it one of his most accomplished works.

New mosaics have recently been added to St Paul's Walk, paying tribute to women, particularly during the First World War. These include 8 women who left their mark on the history of the region during the war and who recently passed away.

In 1799, fourteen locks were built on the banks of the Brecon Canal to link Newport to the vast mineral transport network. Today, this work of hydraulic engineering is the subject of a rehabilitation plan. The reservoirs and former locks, now overgrown with vegetation, are lined with trees and green spaces. People come here for picnics and walks. A visitor center tells us more about the history of this transportation route.

The Kymin is a 4-hour wooded park estate located on the hill of the same name, about 1 mile east of Monmouth, overlooking the Wye River. It includes a neo-classical round house and a naval temple, both built in the late 18th century by the Monmouth Picnic Club (or Kymin Club). The site was used to organize social events and banquets. The positioning of the Round House meets the criteria of the Summer Houses, very popular at the time, which were built on a site intended to offer guests a sublime view of nature.

Many extraction quarries were dug here, following the opening of the Brecon Canal, which allowed limestone to be transported to neighbouring towns. It was widely used for the construction of ovens as well as for bleaching house facades. The limestone also provides a very rich soil, a wide variety of plants flourish on this cliff, now considered of scientific interest and integrated into a nature reserve.

On the walking side, the most popular climbs of the Brecon Beacons are those of the highest point Pen-y-Fan (886 metres) and its neighbour Corn Du. A two to three kilometre trail links the two peaks from Pont-ar-Daf, less than a kilometre from the pub Storey Arms on the A470, between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil. If needed, you can find a map with the detailed itinerary and much more information (such as alternative routes...) at the tourist office in Brecon. From the summit, very accessible, you have a very nice view!

A tapestry was created in 2007 to celebrate the city's millennium. The six-meter-long work, which required the combined talents of forty people and 20,000 hours of labor, is impressive for its attention to detail. The central figure represents the sleeping Jesse. He is recognizable by the tree trunk protruding from his body. According to the Bible, he is the father of King David and one of Christ's ancestors. The figure is a reproduction of the wooden sculpture on display in the church.

This Norman fortress overlooking the city was one of the most important of the Abergavenny seigneury and was also used as a residence by the passing kings. In the 12th century, the castle had terrible stories of murder and treason. The castle, as we see it today, was essentially built between the 13th and 14th centuries, when it became the property of the Hastings. A museum is located inside the castle, where you can see a beautiful collection of objects.

It is the museum of the city's inhabitants, the one that pays tribute to them. Various objects related to life in the industrial site are displayed in display cases and photographs. The museum is named after the writer Alexander Cordell, whose book Le Viol de la Belle Contrée describes the troubled history of the village in the early days of the industrial revolution. He recounts the life of a family of miners fighting against poverty and social injustice

We cannot ignore Big Pit if we want to understand the country's past, the solidarity that came out of the mines and Britain's place in the industrial revolution. We start by going down into the mine itself where we stay for almost an hour. It's better not to be too claustrophobic to walk through these long tunnels! Then, to finish, we visit the huge block of collective showers and a permanent exhibition on the history of mines.

This centre, run by forest rangers, distributes information about hiking and the surrounding nature. There is a corner reserved for reading brochures and books made available free of charge. If you do not find what you are looking for, do not hesitate to ask for advice. The cafeteria - run by a chef who worked at the Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris - offers local dishes such as "Pen-Y-Fan Pasty" or "Beacon Bake".

Like many tourist offices, it is a real mine of information, both on the city and on the natural park. You can book your accommodation, find hiking trails, contact details of farms that rent horses, local bus schedules... Also ideal for finding a lot of information on activities to do in case of rain, alone, with friends or family. If we are looking to get away from the beaten track, the team is there to inform us, with a professional and warm welcome as a bonus!

This is perhaps the best place to see how the establishment of the mines completely changed the organization of rural life. Rhondda Heritage Park is a must-see for anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of the country's past. In the center of the hills, the mine, then all around rows of workers' houses huddled together. 160,000 workers once settled in the Rhondda valley to run its 40 coal mines!

A street from the 1950s has been reconstructed in the visitor center building, recreating the everyday atmosphere in which the valley's workers lived. On the second floor is an art gallery (free admission) with a temporary program, independent of the site's theme, and a restaurant.

The Black Gold Tour immediately transports us into the dark world of the mine. The tour's main attraction is its focus on the social impact of the new "black cities". Part of the tour, for example, focuses on the place of women in this changed social organization. The experience is also very physical: you descend into the belly of the mine, wearing a safety helmet and armed with a lamp, to discover the machines and their noise, their impressive volume, the dark and damp environment, the darkness... Excellent staging and multimedia documentation give this tour a particularly lively and didactic tone. It's impossible to leave indifferent..

A bridge leads to the imposing fortress surrounded by water. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, it impresses by its volume, its thick walls, its massive towers. This masterpiece of masonry has all the characteristics that can be expected of a medieval fortress. Built on a superb natural site, from the heights of the castle you can contemplate the surrounding landscape. It is probably the most spectacular and best preserved of the "Three Castles" (White, Skenfrith and Grosmont), whose threatening profile can be seen from the outset on the horizon.

Despite the assaults of the civil war against which the castle had to resist, its ruins remain impressive. And yet, he had to manage to endure a ten-week siege! The main entrance is imposing, with its semi-hexagonal towers with projecting edges, set like crowns of stones at their top.

To the left of the entrance, the Great Tower, a building by William ap Thomas, is considered a masterpiece of defensive innovation. It was Thomas, Earl of Pembroke, who began to give the castle its palace character.

Within walking distance of the village, the vast Iron Age archaeological site of Pen-y-Crug occupies the top of a hill (at an altitude of 331 metres). There are five rows of ramparts that form a large circular enclosure. The Celts protected themselves by throwing stones at their attackers from this promontory.

After the ascent, which is accessible to all, it is a pleasure to sit on the old stones of this spectacular site to contemplate the superb view of the Usk Valley or to settle for a good picnic.

Strolling along the banks of the canal (nicknamed "Mon & Brec Canal" for those in the know) to the south of the town is a delightful experience. Lined with flower-filled cottages, its tranquil waters are alive with colonies of colorful ducks. Popular with cyclists and hikers alike, the 56 km-long canal runs south to Cwmbrân. Also navigable, the canal attracts a large number of barges every year: an original outing that's sure to please the kids!

The Royal Welsh Regiment Museum explains the military life of the Brecon region, which still has an important garrison. Battle reconstructions and a film are dedicated to the Zulu War: a Welsh achievement as the 140 Welsh soldiers managed to defend themselves against 4,000 Zulu warriors! There is a vast collection of medals and firearms. Interesting enough to learn more about the history of the region.

Founded in 1928, the museum has recently been refurbished to become a vibrant cultural center in the heart of Brecknockshire. It houses a diverse collection of objects, artifacts and documents, offering a captivating insight into local history, archaeology, art and Welsh culture. Exhibits cover a vast period, from the region's earliest prehistoric inhabitants to key events and figures in more recent history.

Superb Gothic cathedral built around 1215 with breathtaking stained glass windows. The Celts were the first to pray at the top of this hill; then came the Norman people: the font baptismal inside the building testifies to their passage. The exterior, rather austere, contrasts with an interior coloured by the light of the stained glass windows and the finesse of the sculpted wood pan in the nave. Brecon Cathedral frequently organises concerts of Welsh choirs, for a dive in the heart of the Celtic soul.

Overlooking the marshes, Weobley Castle (pronounced "web-lee") offers superb views: the Llanrhid salt flats and the Loughor estuary. Before accessing it, don't forget to pay for your ticket in the house opposite. Contrary to its name, Weobley Castle was a fortified mansion, a residence of the De La Bere family, built in the 14th century (1304-1327), and not a castle with a defensive purpose. It was attacked and severely damaged at the beginning of the 15th century by Owain's forces at Glyndŵr (be careful, last access 30 minutes before closing).

In this particularly well reconstructed setting, we find ourselves in the midst of the ^15th century in the home of a wealthy merchant. Virtually intact, the Tudor Merchant's House houses three floors of Flemish fireplaces, period furniture and curios. A journey back in time! Don't hesitate to ask the very knowledgeable and competent staff. The museum is very well designed for children, with interactive games to keep them entertained! As with many museums, there's also a pretty souvenir store on site.

Perched on a rocky promontory, it is one of the most powerful lighthouses in Britain. To the southwest of the lighthouse stretches a jagged rocky bay, an enormous jaw open to the sea. No beach here: the jagged rock falls abruptly into the sea. Walking on the cliffs promises splendid views. On the east side, following the coast, about 2 km from the lighthouse, we come across a cliff that is permanently home to seal families. Strumble Head is also a wonderful place to watch the sunset.

This handsome red-brick Gothic building was built in 1897. It became the administrative center of the Port of Cardiff in 1947. Since 2010, it has been a venue for events and conferences open to the public. It's also a museum, providing an insight into the history of the country and Cardiff Bay. From the golden age of its port, linked to iron ore and coal exports in the ^19th century, through the crises of the 1920s and 1950s, to the revival of the city since the 1980s.

The venue has three galleries devoted to contemporary art, featuring paintings, sculptures and photographs by current Welsh artists. To encourage artistic creation, St. David's Hall awards an annual prize to the "Welsh Artist of the Year". Otherwise, you'll find plenty of entertainment here, with an interesting and varied program. Whether it's music, cinema, film-concert, sporting events, theater... there's something for everyone. Ideal for discovering Welsh talent!

This Anglican church is Cardiff's oldest building. The first thing you notice is its finely decorated tower, topped with pinnacles and eleven bells! The social function that the Welsh Church has always wanted to have is at work here. The organ is rung several times a week at lunchtime, and free evening concerts are organized, the program for which is posted to the right of the main entrance door.

The church also houses its own tea room.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council offers an interesting tour to discover the most sumptuous houses in Penarth. It was north of the city, between Penarth Marina and Windsor Road, that wealthy owners took advantage of the city's heights by building large residences facing the waterfront.

From Beach Road, you can join the itinerary from Kymin Terrace, where you can see sumptuous Victorian properties.

Higher up, on Clive Crescent, is Osborne House, a large red brick house flanked by round towers with a pointed roof. On the right is a park, from which you have a beautiful view over the sea and the two islands Flat and Steep Holm.

We continue towards St. Augustin Church. The polychrome interior of the church is superb and original. It was the architect William Butterfield, then very popular in the 19th century, who created this bold and contrasting mix of stones in various colours. From the picturesque cemetery, there is an interesting panoramic view of Cardiff Bay.

The route then suggests continuing to Penarth Marina, but the interest of the buildings is less on this last part of the route. It is better to then go down directly to the centre.

Another interesting tour through the city is the Penarth Woman's Trail, which showcases 15 places of interest, women who have had an impact on the region through their accomplishment and commitment. A great opportunity to discover 15 local personalities.

A 40-minute ride in a train pulled by an authentic steam locomotive that was once used to transport slate to Menai Strait. The circuit runs along the twin lakes, Llyn Beris and Llyn Padarn. The train departs from Padarn Country Park Station or Llanberis Station and stops at Penllyn. The walk is nice and we discover beautiful landscapes that we wouldn't necessarily see otherwise. It's worth it, especially if you don't stay long and don't have the possibility to go on foot to discover this area.

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

Also known as Alisby Castle - probably the former governor of the castle - there is not much left of Crickhowell Castle, built in the 13th century to guard the Usk Valley. On a small hill overlooking the village, the ruins are nevertheless charming to see. The chance of conservation has made it the very aesthetic equivalent of outdoor sculptures, which the assault of wild vegetation has finished beautifying. However, if you are in the area, don't forget to take a look around, we will quickly take a look around.

Dolphins, porpoises, Atlantic grey seals, little penguins, guillemots... Since New Quay's main attraction is its marine life, you might as well go to sea! Once on board the boat, from the youngest to the oldest, we quickly get caught up in the game of looking for the presence of dolphins or others. We are welcomed by enthusiasts and we take this opportunity to learn more about marine wildlife and current issues: pollution and global warming that threaten the balance of these animals. Book in advance, especially in summer.

This garden offers an incredible diversity of plants, rare and exotic species. Discover it in spring and summer. For the full experience, you can enjoy a guided tour, a gardening course or floral displays. You can also visit the historic house which, like the gardens, was restored in the 1990s. The garden has undergone many changes since its creation in the ^13th century, and is still steeped in history. A visit that is both historical and contemplative, a moment of relaxation and discovery.

Immerse yourself in the history of Carmarthenshire at this small but comprehensive museum. You'll find many life-size reconstructions of life in the county at different times. Life in the mines, the first telephones, an early ^20th-century classroom - you'll find all these stories and more. For adults and children alike, this free museum is a great place to have a good time. The surrounding park is also well worth a visit, with a charming pond ideal for family walks.

This perfectly renovated ^17th-century manor house is well worth a visit. Set in the heart of Dinefwr Park, the Gothic facade you can admire today dates back to the ^19th century. Home to several generations of descendants of Lord Rhys, who ruled Deheubarth in the ^12th century, it is now open to the public. You can explore the elegant rooms or stroll through the perfectly manicured gardens. With interactive exhibits and guides, you can learn more about the family's past and its influence on the region's history.

From Cardiff Bay, you can travel to Flat Holm Island, now a nature reserve with impressive colonies of seabirds. Once there, you can take a three-hour guided tour of the island. It's fascinating, and children especially love it! You'll be taken to the best places to observe the marine wildlife. You might even come across George, the island's wild turtle mascot!

Although in ruins, Carreg Cennen Castle still boasts numerous passageways and rooms, as well as the remains of towers and ramparts. As much for its historical interest as for its strategic location on a sheer cliff overlooking the surrounding Brecon Beacons park, the castle is well worth a visit. At the far end of the inner courtyard, on the left, don't miss the passageway to the cellars, which will take you deep into the castle, to the passages dug into the rock and said to be haunted.

Want to find out what it's like to present the news? Dive into the heart of one of the world's biggest news channels and discover the secrets behind the TV sets. During this tour of the TV and radio studios, you'll go behind the scenes of BBC program-making and visit one of the BBC's largest newsrooms, equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and robotic cameras. An original visit well worth the detour!

This ferry bridge, theonly one of its kind in Great Britain, was inaugurated in 1906. Its particular metal structure is explained by the fact that, since the banks of the Usk River are very low, the construction of a standard bridge would have made it impossible for boats to pass through. Towers 75 metres high have therefore been built and instead of crossing the bridge by rolling or walking, we drive on a platform dragged underneath the bridge structure! It can support a maximum of six cars at a time and 120 passengers.

A very flat mountain at its top, hence its name, which can be seen very well behind the village. Climbing it is one of the most popular hikes in the area (three hours from Crickhowell). From its summit, at an altitude of 451 metres, the views over the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains are sensational. Easily accessible, they do not pose major problems, even for those who are not too used to them or for families. However, remain vigilant depending on the weather conditions, the weather can change quickly.

The "Fortress of the Crows" is a ruined prehistoric fort, perched at 266 meters. There is not much to see from the castle but the view is superb and the place is full of legends. According to these legends, the fortress was built by one of Queen Corwena's twin sons, Bran, after his brother Beli moved to London, and the Queen to another city. Legend has it that the name Bran was actually a code name of the Princes of Arthur for the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail would be, therefore, buried in the foundations of Dinas Bran!

This is where, according to legend, Merlin predicted that the Welsh Prince Vortigern would be defeated by England and then re-conquered after having a vision of a battle between two dragons.

Just across the street is the Llyn Dinas Lake, also associated with Merlin. It is said that the real throne is buried in the lake and waits for a young man to climb up on a certain rock to resurface.

Another legend claims that Excalibur was thrown there and that the Knights of the Round Table lived in an adjacent cellar. The whole, dominated by Mount Yr Aran (750 m).

The architecture of this concert hall is unprecedented, with its combination of metal, wood, glass and slate. Its façade is composed of words, in Welsh on the left (" Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr O Ffwrnais Awen ") and English on the right (" In These Stones Horizons Sing "), forming a verse written for the occasion by Gwyneth Lewis, the great Welsh poet born in Cardiff in 1959. To give you an idea of the translation, it would be "In these stones, horizons sing". Featuring a vast auditorium with ideal acoustics, it can accommodate both opera and theater.

Just off the A4080, 3.2 km northwest of Aberffraw. This prehistoric burial chamber has the peculiarity of having incisions on its stones, zigzags, spirals and diamonds. It is likely that these primitive drawings are a representation of the mother goddess. If you would like to visit the interior of the room, please contact the Wayside Stores in Llanfaelog by phone, ideally a little early! The visit is worth the detour.

From the small village of Penmaen, reported from the parking lot, a circuit lets you browse a set of archaeological sites between Three Cliffs Bay Bay and Oxwich Bay: medieval church, iron age burial rooms, and ruins of a late th century Norman castle, Pennard Castle. The location of this castle perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the beach of Three Cliffs Bay is impressive and the panorama deserves the ascent!