The different types
To simplify their history, they can be divided into three categories. First, Welsh castles built before the English invasion. Then there are the English castles. Most were built in the 13th century by Edward I of England and his successors. And finally, castles with no defensive purpose whatsoever, commissioned by wealthy eccentrics.
The three rules of an Edwardian castle
King Edward I built a ring of castles in North Wales: Caerphilly, Criccieth, Caernarfon, Denbigh, Beaumaris, Flint and Harlech! The initial aim was exclusively defensive.
Edward I had all these castles built according to the following three rules. Firstly, a source of drinking water had to be available when the castle was built. In the event of a siege, a well would be indispensable. Secondly, they must be located on the banks of a river or the sea. This will ensure supplies in the event of a siege. The Welsh had no navy, unlike the English. Last but not least, castles had to be built of stone to resist attack. What's more, all castles were whitewashed, with the exception of Caernarfon.
A small tour of the castles of Wales
Let's start with Cardiff Castle. It's a castle that never had a defensive purpose and today, over 2,000 stories accumulate in different styles. In the 19th century, it was renovated by an architect renowned for his extravagance and love of the Middle Ages. Thanks in part to him, it was filled with gilding and frescoes... Castell Coch is a 19th-century castle in the neo-Gothic style. It may look simple from the outside, but the inside may surprise you. It was renovated by the same architect who worked on Cardiff Castle. The result is as colorful as it gets.
Not far from Cardiff, Caerphilly Castle is typical of the warrior fortresses built by Edward I, the first Englishman to successfully annex Wales. It is the second largest in Britain after Windsor. The ghosts of a green lady and patrolling soldiers are said to haunt this castle.
Margam Castle in Port Talbot is a Victorian manor house. Although it's not open to visitors today, it's one of the most haunted castles in the country! Several paranormal activity shows have been filmed here.
From the small village of Penmaen, on the way to Pennard Castle, a circuit takes you through a series of archaeological sites located between Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay: a medieval church, Iron Age burial chambers, and the ruins of a Norman castle dating from the late 13th century. The location of this castle, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking Three Cliffs Bay beach, is impressive, and the panorama is well worth the climb!
Carew Castle is probably one of the strangest and most fascinating castles in the south. Built between 280 and 1310, it was considerably enlarged in the 15th century. Many visitors are said to have seen the ghosts of Sir Roland Rhys, one of the castle's tenants, and his monkey, returning to haunt the north-west tower where they lived. According to legend, Lord Rhys was mysteriously murdered one night after refusing his daughter's hand in marriage to a suitor who cursed him. The body of the monkey, also dead, was found at his side. For the record, horseshoe bats are often seen here at dusk in summer.
Pembroke Castle was built by the Normans to subdue the Welsh. Today, the towers are still intact. Still in Pembrokeshire, Roch Castle is also originally a Norman castle, dating back to the 12th century. In those days, however, its role was defensive. It overlooks the valley, offering incredible views over the bay.
On to Aberystwyth Castle, one of nine castles built between 1277 and 1295 by Edward I to protect his newly conquered territory from attack by the Prince of Wales. All that remains of the ancient fortress are the towers on the far north and south sides and a few remnants of the surrounding walls. The ruins are in the open air, scattered on a green platform overlooking the sea, from which you can also see the harbour and surrounding hills.
Harlech Castle, a Norman castle, is ideally located. The view is sublime. In fact, the exploits of its defenders are sung in "Men of Harlech", one of the country's most famous songs. It tells of the seven-year siege between 1461 and 1468.
Llywelyn the Great, the national hero, was probably born in Dolwyddelan Castle. Shortly afterwards, it was conquered and fortified by Edward I.
Dolbadarn Castle, the ruins of a pre-Norman castle, inspired the painter Turner, who depicted it in his paintings.
Caernarfon Castle was built between 1283 and 1330 by Edward I to consolidate his military advance, but also to make it his royal residence and political headquarters. He wanted the castle to be a blend of styles, combining the walls of Constantinople - hence its unusual polygonal towers - and Roman grandeur. The King of England had indeed had the opportunity to discover the city of Constantinople during his participation in the Crusades. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Caernarfon is one of the best-preserved castles in Wales, as well as one of the largest medieval castles in the world, towering majestically over the sea - a journey back in time!
Beaumaris Castle is located on the Isle of Anglesey. The last castle of the Iron Ring, erected by Edward I of England to keep the Welsh at bay, the imposing Beaumaris Castle is not yet completely finished, but it is very well preserved. This fine example of a concentric stronghold has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
Penrhyn Castle was built by architect Thomas Hopper for George Hay Dawkins between 1820 and 1833. With its distinctive style, interior furnishings and paintings, it's well worth a visit, especially if you're near Bangor.
Conwy Castle was one of the strongholds of the English king Edward I. He had a "royal" village built there. He had a "royal" village built, surrounded by ramparts, to house the English merchants who, encouraged by the king, wished to settle in Wales.
Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales dates from the 15th century. It is one of a number of "decorative" castles commissioned by a wealthy family. It was built as a manor house for the Humphreys, an Anglesey family. The castle we see today dates from 1830. It became a hotel after having been a hospital during the First World War and then a college in the 1980s.
The ruins of Dinas Bran Castle, above the town of Llangollen. According to legend, the fortress was built by one of Queen Corwena's twin sons, Bran, after his brother Beli had moved to London, and the Queen to a town now called Corwen. Legend has it that the name Bran was actually a code name used by Arthur's princes to describe the Holy Grail. According to legend, the Holy Grail is buried in the foundations of Dinas Bran! If you fancy a little digging... This site is also known as the fortress of the ravens.
Powis Castle, near Welshpool, was built in 1260 at the top of a ridge, on the site of a former Norman fort, during the reign of Edward I. It's a beautiful castle with a fine stonework. It's a beautiful castle to visit, quite unlike the castles of the west or the ruins of the south. Originally built for military purposes to control the border with England, the castle has been a pleasure residence for several centuries. Powis Castle is in excellent condition, having been transformed into a grand Elizabethan manor house in 1587 by Sir Edward Herbert, first Lord of Cherbury. The castle's current exhibition, "Worlds Apart in War, the Welsh Girls School", offers a glimpse into the castle's more recent past. In 1939, a group of pupils and teachers from the Middlesex school were evacuated to the castle at the invitation of George Herbert, the school's governor. The girls, aged 11 to 16, will spend seven years in the castle.
We finish this loop back in South Wales by arriving at Chepstow Castle, the most impressive Norman fortress ruin in the valley and the first stone-built castle in the UK. In 1189, the building passed into the hands of William Marshal. This knight, renowned for his military knowledge, had defensive walls added on either side of the Great Tower, corresponding to the castle's present-day enclosure. The entrance was also built under his reign, flanked by two round towers - a revolutionary detail at a time when towers were square. The impressive oak gates, also built by Marshal, are in an almost pristine state of preservation. They are the oldest visible castle gates in Europe!
Raglan Castle is one of the last medieval castles to be built in Britain, and is often considered one of the finest in Wales. Its appearance is very different from the large Norman defensive fortresses such as Chepstow or the three castles north of Monmouth. What sets Raglan apart in particular is its hexagonal plan and the double structure of its bridge, inspired by the architecture of French chateaux.
Once in South Wales, the Normans built a belt of imposing castles to protect their newly acquired territories, veritable fortresses dominating the Wye valley. The route takes in the sites of three of these stone giants: Grosmont, Skenfrith and White Castle, all built in the 11th century within a 12 km radius north of Monmouth. The grandeur of these buildings demonstrates the importance to the Normans of protecting their territories from the English. In 1201, the three castles were presented by King John to Hubert de Burgh, who brought this new architectural technology to the continent. Over the centuries, these castles became more residences than military fortresses. In 1902, they were sold by the Duke of Beaufort to three different owners. This was the first time since 1138 that the castles had not belonged to the same man.
