Welsh Castles

Alphabetical Castles Index

Wales was always a very turbulent land, and is full of ancient Celtic hill forts, but the invaders introduced the idea of castles. The castles of Wales fall into three categories: (1) The Norman Conquest fortresses and manorial estates (Chepstow, Pembroke, Manorbier, Tretower), (2) the Edwardian power bases (Caernarvon, Conwy, Harlech), and (3) the native Welsh refuges (Dolwyddelan, Ewloe, Castell-y-Bere). It's not really that simple, because the sizes and complexities vary so much in these cat

The Castle recently features on the BBC2 Resoration Programme, was the birthplace of the Eisteddfod in 1176 It was the first Welsh built stone castle, owned by the great Lord Rhys Step back in time - Close your eyes and listen out for the ghosts of Norman Overlords, Welsh rebel leaders and Roundhead soldiers, It is their life stories that go to make Wales' Castles and ancient sites the unique experiences they are today.

you need look no further than Ruthin Castle (the "Red Fort"), which originally dates from before 1277 and dominates the historic Welsh countryside market town of Ruthin, close to Chester, Denbigh, Llangollen and within easy reach of the North Wales Coast, Snowdonia and picturesque Betws-y-Coed. The castle previously formed part of the Crown Estate until sold by Charles I in 1632 and sits in its ancient walled dry moat within acres of private landscaped gardens, parkland and woods alongside the

While you may recognize many of the castles, others are less well-known and some, for all intent and purposes, are known only to serious enthusiasts. The conditions of castles listed vary greatly from nearly-complete fortresses to those with scant remains and others that can only be identified by their surviving earthworks.