Contemporary architecture Cardiff

Built for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, on the site of the old Arms Park sports arena, this is a mythical stadium for the Welsh! Imposing and modern, it is the second largest stadium in the world to feature a fully retractable roof. Since January^1, 2016, and for the next ten years, the Millennium Stadium has been renamed Principality Stadium, after the Cardiff-based Principality Building Society. The Welsh rugby union has signed a naming contract (a kind of sponsorship) worth £15 million. This huge modern saucer can accommodate up to 74,500 spectators!
Rugby matches are the most impressive international events. You've got to see Cardiff on the day of a national rugby team match! You can feel the Welsh fervor in the streets as the day progresses. There are also soccer matches, motorcycle rallies, car races and concerts that attract huge crowds. The program is extensive and exhaustive. It is published on the stadium's website.

Visit Principality Stadium: home of the "Red Devils". It's possible (and highly recommended!) to explore this magnificent stadium, one of the most impressive icons of modern Wales, with a visit to the press conference room, VIP lounge, changing rooms, players' tunnel to the "sacred turf"... Impressive!

This huge shopping and leisure area of Mermaid Quay (14,000 ^m2) is one of the spearheads of the new image of Cardiff Harbour. A symbol of the refurbishment of the dock area, opened in 1999, it now offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafes and services. Many of the centre's restaurants, such as Las Iguanas and Bill's, are also located here. And if you are ever in search of a good hairdresser or barber, Ken Picton's salon is very well known!

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.

The Senedd (pronounced "Senn-eth") is the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The National Assembly was formed in 1999, following the 1997 referendum on decentralization. While in 1997, more than 50% were in favour, in 1979, 80% of voters voted no in the same referendum. This second vote represents a significant step in the history of the devolution of power that goes back several centuries.

Since its inauguration in 2006, it has become one of the most symbolic buildings in the country. It is a model of ecology and transparency, designed by architect Richard Rogers. It features glass walls and highlights renewable energies. For example, ventilation is natural and collected rainwater is used to supply the toilets. Its beautiful wooden roof, reminiscent of wave movement, is made from sustainably managed red cedar from British Columbia's forests and South Wales steel.

The stands (on the ground floor) are open to the public: you can attend a plenary session attended by all sixty Members of the Assembly. Don't worry, headphones are available to listen to the English translation of any debate in Welsh. An opportunity to immerse yourself in Welsh politics!

From 1999 to the opening of the Senedd in 2006, the Assembly's plenary sessions were held at Crickhowell House (behind the Senedd)