Travel guide Wales

From the imposing ruins of Norman castles in the south, witness to a tormented era, to Edward ^I's castles on the north coast, built to protect his lands, they're everywhere! Of all sizes, in all regions. Fortified, manor houses, romantic ruins. Scattered ruins also dot the land.

These great festivals are genuine traditions, dating back as far as the ^10th century. Seven centuries later, under the impetus of Queen Elizabeth^I, who wanted to regulate the proliferation of wandering musicians, the Eisteddfod was formalized and became an annual national event, welcoming bards, storytellers, singers and minstrels.

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.

The dragon has long been the emblem of Wales. The Welsh flag features a red dragon on a green and white background. In the ^7th century, the Welsh hero Cadwaladr imported the dragon to Wales. The animal quickly became the symbol of the country. Today, it's everywhere, on banners, T-shirts..

Two families of druids remain. The first meets annually at the Royal Eisteddfod. It comprises a heterogeneous group of Welshmen with either an important social function or a gift for poetry. The second group of druids tries to recover the practices of the druids of Celtic times, as little knowledge remains.

One of the three symbols of Wales. The legend behind the celebration of the daffodil is charming and emblematic of Welsh pragmatism and humor. The Welsh word for leek is Cenhinen and for daffodil Cenhinen Pedr. Over the years, the Welsh confused the two and the daffodil was adopted as the symbol of the country!

Welsh is the heart language of Wales. The word welsh comes from the Old English wealh, meaning "foreigner". This is how the Saxons referred to their Celtic neighbors. Spoken by half the population at the turn of the century, Welsh is now spoken by only 25% of the population, but remains ubiquitous.

The Welsh are convinced that the hero of our childhood came from here. It is said that it was after 50 years of walking in the forest with wild animals that he acquired his clairvoyant gifts. It was also in the forest that he is said to have seen a fight between two dragons, one white and one red, and to have predicted the victory of the latter!

The title is traditionally bestowed on the heir to the British throne. It is currently held by William, eldest son of King Charles III. On the day of Charles's investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle, some of the audience wore badges reading "No Englishman can claim to be Prince of Wales".

More welcoming than a bistro and more intimate than a large café, the pub is much more than a place to come for a drink - it's an integral part of Anglo-Saxon culture. It's a place where people meet, socialize and chat, always over a pint of beer. There are an impressive number of pubs all over the country.

A British expression you need to know! It refers to beer brewed in the traditional way. Fermentation takes place naturally, producing a weak gas. Result: no need to add artificial gas. Many pubs serve real ales, often produced locally. Originally, real ales were brewed without hops and drunk fresh.

More than an institution, it's a veritable religion that inspires the Welsh people as a whole. The XV du Poireau or the Red Devils are worshipped like gods in Wales, and matches are an excuse to celebrate. If you get the chance, don't miss a match at the stadium or pub!