Works of art to see Wales

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a monumental aqueduct, almost 40 meters high and 300 meters long, spanning the torrential River Dee and carrying the Llangollen Canal in a long cast-iron tank, supported by bold yet lightweight pillars. This innovation has enabled the company to expand its transport capacity. In the past, horse-drawn boats crossed this suspended waterway, carrying coal, lime and iron from the mines and quarries of the Llangollen valley to Ellesmere. Crossing it today is truly impressive!

A pioneering masterpiece of engineering andmonumental architecture. Completed in the early ^19th century, this aerial canal-bridge was built by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford (1757-1834), and is popularly known as "the canal in the sky" by locals. A pioneering work in terms of its technological choices and architectural boldness, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2009. It bears witness to the unique production capabilities of the British steel industry at the time.

This magnificent structure features a cast-iron and wrought-iron shell, set as if by magic on tall, slender pillars of elegant architecture. The Pontcysyllte canal bridge(Traphont Ddŵr Pontcysyllte in Welsh) represents a civil engineering feat of the Industrial Revolution. Its construction in a single reach, without any locks, despite a difficult geographical environment, makes it a remarkable example of artificial waterway construction, which has inspired many other projects around the world.

Today, its vocation is essentially tourism. The bridge-canal is now equipped for river tourism and is a tourist destination in its own right. Its canal, filled almost to the brim with water, can be crossed by boat (via Llangollen Wharf), while its narrow, bolted, cantilevered sidewalk allows passage on foot or by bike. Either way, it's a vertiginous experience!

What's more, the Trevor Basin Visitor Centre is right beside the aqueduct. It houses a collection of historical artifacts dating back to the construction of the Pontcysyllte Canal Bridge. Visitors can also enjoy a video recounting the history of this impressive structure, as well as a children's activity area and gift store.

At the bottom of Monnow Street is the old fortified bridge of the city and the door that marked the entrance to the th century.

In the shadow of the castle, no fewer than three bridges span the estuary of the River Conwy and are well worth a visit.

The first is the Conwy Suspension Bridge. This is the oldest suspension bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas Telford, a Scottish architect and civil engineer who built many bridges and roads throughout the UK. Its suspension is made of wrought-iron chains, crossing the River Conwy. It is one of the world's first road suspension bridges. Its purpose was to provide a route for stagecoaches on their way to Holyhead. Telford's idea was also to harmonize the towers supporting the bridge with those of the nearby castle!

You can walk on this elegant footbridge, now reserved for pedestrians, which is part of Britain's cultural heritage due to its complex structure and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Conwy Railway Bridge. The second is the covered tube bridge, built in 1848 and reserved for trains on the Llandudno-Bangor line. Another monument to the industrial revolution, this railway bridge was built by a certain Robert Stephenson, the originator of the steam train.

Modern Conwy Bridge. Modern road bridge carrying the A547, used from 1958 to relieve traffic congestion.

Most impressive of all is the fact that there is a fourth road into Conwy. But this one's underground, submerged beneath the river!

These three bridges make for a pleasant stroll along the River Conwy!

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.

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.

Internationally renowned artist for his breathtaking anamorphoses in situ, Felice Varini invites us to experience it at the site of the Cardiff Bay Dam. First, we notice, in various places, thin segments of yellow paint. Seen from a certain angle (it is up to you to find out which one!), these scattered fragments are then recomposed in the form of three interlocking circles, called "Three Ellispes for Three Locks". This Swiss artist has also worked extensively in France, from the gardens of the Château de Versailles to Marseille.