Things to see and do Llangollen

It's one of the most popular attractions in the country!

Motorboats. The Thomas Telford sails for two hours along the Llangollen Canal. Not to be missed: the passage over the impressive and monumental Pontcysyllte canal bridge, a masterpiece of the famous engineer Thomas Telford.

Boats hauled by horses. 45-minute tour on one of the most beautiful canals in the country

Two-hour trips are also available to Horseshoe Falls, a semi-circular dam on the Dee River nestled in a peaceful natural setting.

On the A542, north of Llangollen, the road climbs up the green hillsides to the highest point at Horseshoe Pass (Bwlch yr Oernant in Welsh) at 417 metres above sea level, from where there is a magnificent view over the valley. At the top of the hill is The Ponderosa restaurant, open daily. From the car park, beacons mark the start of a 14km hike to Offa's Dyke Path, through the Dee Valley. It takes about six hours to walk around. We can stop at the restaurant or, in the summer, take the opportunity to have a picnic.

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!

In a sumptuous late 18th century manor house, the life of a provincial bourgeois family was staged. The rooms are beautifully furnished with the furniture, tapestries and accessories of yesteryear giving a very realistic picture of what a domestic interior looked like at the time. Certainly one of the most beautiful historic houses in the country. The impressive gardens, crossed by a canal, respect the style of the 18th century flowerbeds. Spectacular.

Very pleasant visit in a very different castle. We are here in a beautiful house built in 1300, on the model of Beaumaris, but whose interior dates mainly from the 18th century (rich furniture, majestic staircase, Mortlake tapestries ...). The building is still partly inhabited by the Myddelton family since 1595, when their ancestor bought the castle for £5,000.

Don't miss the superb park, a small jewel of English gardens, laid out at the end of the 18th century by a great British landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown.

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.

The Llangollen Museum is a collection of photographs and archives that teach about the history of the city. It contains, among other things, maps, period newspapers and handwritten documents that bring the region's past to life in bits and pieces. You can also discover the many fascinating legends around here, especially those relating to King Arthur, who seems to have passed through here. This people's museum, opened in 2002, also provides information on agricultural life, education and religious history. An exciting visit for young and old alike.

"La Vallée de la Croix" is a deliciously peaceful place, where meditation is a must. This Cistercian abbey is much better preserved than its twin Strata Florida. The Cistercian monks who sought isolation settled in this green and secluded countryside at the foot of the steep mountains of Llangollen. When you pass through the still valiant doors of the abbey, it is a journey through time. Here we are in the austere daily life of these disciples of God. Many of the architectural ornaments have survived the centuries.

The origin of the town's name, this church was erected in honor of St. Collen, an Irish warrior and religious figure of the ^7th century. The most interesting feature is the ^15th-century ceiling: an oak framework, finely carved with angels and Celtic motifs, which is thought to have come from Valle Crucis Abbey in the village of Llantysilio. The adjacent cemetery is well worth a visit: it contains the graves of the two ladies of Llangollen. For the record, Collen means hazel tree.

Plas Newydd was the home of two Irish women, Eleanore Butler and Sarah Ponsonby. It was not customary in 1780 for two women to leave their families and countries in order to escape their destiny as "daughters of a good family" and settle together. We discover today the universe of these two aesthetes who surrounded themselves with beautiful objects. Large mirrors, carved dark wood fireplaces and sophisticated furniture give their homes a Gothic feel. Many poets and intellectuals came to visit the "demoiselles de Llangollen".