Things to see and do Aberystwyth

Opened in 1896 to take tourists to the Luna Park amusement park, which was located at the top of the hill, the funicular now leads to a giant optical instrument, the camera obscura, accessible to the public, to the Y Consti restaurant and above all to a magnificent panorama. This 237-metre funicular line is one of the longest in the British Isles. Clearly an must if you are visiting Aberystwyth or nearby! Frequent departures but remember to check the dates and schedules carefully, especially in winter.

Railway inaugurated in 1902. Three superposed bridges overlook a narrow and deep gorge, where a waterfall flows. Legend has it that the villagers, unable to build the bridge, made a pact with the devil: he agreed to solve the problem in exchange for the first soul to cross the bridge. The villagers managed to get away with this haggling: they threw bread on the deck to sacrifice the innocent soul of a dog... The journey takes place on board vintage wagons pulled by a steam locomotive.

Aberystwyth, Wales' first university city, has a recognised university, which opened in 1872 in a former seaside hotel. It was the first British university to accept women, and also the first in the world to open a faculty dedicated to international politics. It ranks fourth in the United Kingdom for the quality of its teaching. It is divided into several buildings and 18 departments. The most impressive is undoubtedly the one built facing the sea.

The city's School of Fine Arts is located in a superb Edwardian period classified building overlooking Cardigan Bay. It houses a museum open to the public with an impressive collection: there is an important collection of engravings, from the 15th century to the present day, drawings, watercolours and paintings by European artists. The museum also acquired two collections of photographs. The programming is always excellent. We recommend it to you!

It was one of the castles built by Edward I. Only the towers of the far north and south and some remains of the walls remain of the old fortress. The ruins are open-air, scattered on a green platform overlooking the sea. At the centre of this ensemble is the Gorsedd Stones Circle, where the opening ceremonies of Eisteddfod, a national festival of traditional Welsh singers and storytellers, took place. The thirteen erected stones each represent a county in Wales

It is impossible not to notice this building, exuberant with its round towers with pointed roofs, elaborate windows, balconies and arches.

In 1864, when the city of Aberystwyth was connected to the national railway network, Thomas Savin bought the building and transformed it into a hotel. He asked the architect J.P. Seddon to give this Victorian building a more "Gothic Revival" look. Take the time to enter and discover the pretty circular balcony and the carved wooden ceiling. This strange architecture is a very successful mix of styles

A visit to the National Library of Wales is a must for anyone interested in the country's history. The oldest manuscript in Welsh, the Black Book of Carmarthen, is on display. The library also holds the only copy of the first book printed in Welsh, Yn y lhyvyr hwnn, dating from 1546. As you can see, the library houses a priceless heritage of Welsh and Celtic literary treasures.

It is the largest camera obscura (darkroom) in the world. This Victorian period attraction has since benefited from technical advances in optics and allows a much clearer vision than it was at its origins. Today, more than 1,000 m² of landscapes are visible, and this in a very precise and detailed way. An impressive optical experience. To get there, you take a funicular to reach the hill. In the end, in addition to the camera obscura, we enjoy a superb view of the city of Aberystwyth.

This entertaining and popular museum exhibits objects relating to everyday life in the 1900s. A section devoted to arts and crafts features watchmaking and silversmithing tools, among others.

Upstairs are landscape paintings and genre scenes depicting the lives of farmers and fishermen in the Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay areas. The Bowen Gallery is devoted to the archaeology and geological formations of Cardigan Bay. Also on display are artefacts from excavations in the area, dating back to the Neolithic period.

It is a large and pleasant building, on several floors, where films are shown, shows are staged... Two contemporary art galleries present exhibitions all year round; one is exclusively reserved for photography. In another space, you can also discover the excellent collection of ceramics belonging to the university. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere, a British literature library and the surrounding park are just some of the reasons to visit. There is also a cafeteria on site.