Best Castles in Wales

Wales is sometimes called the "Land of Castles" as it has more castles per square mile than any place in Europe.

Around 100 castles are still standing in Wales today out of around 600 that were originally constructed.

History of Castles in Wales

Castle-building in England began in earnest following the Norman Conquest in 1066. The aim of Norman castles was to subjugate and strike fear into the defeated Saxons.

However, Wales at this time was largely independent. Over the next two hundred years the Normans steadily increased their presence in Wales until the Welsh were finally defeated with the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282 and his brother Dafydd ap Gruffudd the following year.

During Edward I of England’s reign, a series of castles and town walls were built in order to gain control over the English colonies in Wales. These castles are considered to be the greatest examples of 13th-14th century military architecture in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the four castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech.

Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey in North Wales was constructed by King Edward I, though it was never fully completed when work stopped in 1330. The castle was contested during the English Civil War in the 1640’s.

Local stone was used in the castle’s construction. Altogether there are twelve outer towers and two gate houses. Within are two more large gate houses and six huge stone towers.

Caernarfon Castle, North Wales

Of the four castles in northern Wales built by order of Edward I (1239-1307 CE), Caernarfon Castle is the most spectacular. The power and magnificence of Caernarfon Castle shows Edward’s determination to stamp his authority on Wales. Building work commenced in 1283 CE and continued for 50 years.

Caernarfon Castle looks down on the modern town from its location on the banks of the River Seiont. It was here that Prince Charles, the heir to the throne was invested as the Prince of Wales in 1969.

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle, unlike many other 13th-century Welsh castles, was not built by King Edward I in his effort to suppress the Welsh lords.

Rather, Gilbert ‘the Red’ de Clare, a powerful Norman nobleman built it as a response to a dispute between himself and the Prince of Gwynedd, Llywelyn the Last.

Construction began in 1268 AD but was not finished during de Clare’s lifetime. Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain after Windsor Castle.

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading historical sites. Located in central Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the castle has a 2,000 year history.

The earliest history of Cardiff Castle dates to a Roman fort which was probably established on the site at the end of the 50’s AD. The castle grounds were then a strategic site that afforded easy access to the sea. This fort was the first of four that occupied the present site. Remains of the Roman wall can be seen today.

After the Norman conquest, the Castle’s keep was constructed on the site of the Roman fort. The first keep on the motte (probably built of wood) was erected by Robert Fitzhamon, the Norman Lord of Gloucester.

Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle south of Wrexham in North Wales is just 200 meters from Offa’s Dyke, the ancient defensive wall built probably in the 8th century along the border of the old kingdom of Mercia. From its hilltop vantage point it has commanding views over the Ceiriog Valley to the south. The castle was built in 1295 and has been inhabited almost continuously since then. It was built by Roger Mortimer de Chirk as part of King Edward 1st’s chain of fortresses built across North Wales. Mortimer had been given the land by the King following the Welsh defeat of 1282. Similarities to the design of Beaumaris Castle suggest that royal engineers and architects had a hand in it’s design.

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle was built at huge expense by King Edward I between 1283 and 1289. The site of siege, capture and recapture, the castle has a long history. It was held by forces loyal to Charles I in the English Civil War.

The castle is built of both local and imported stone and overlooks the River Conwy on the coast. Altogether the castle has eight towers and two barbicans and could be supplied by sea.

Dolbadarn Castle

Dolbadarn Castle in North Wales was built by Llywelyn the Great (1173-1240) in the early decades of the 13th century. It has a dramatic and desolate location. The ruined fortress has been the subject of a painting by Turner as well as numerous other artists.

Grosmont Castle

Grosmont Castle along with Skenfrith Castle and White Castle were all built of earth and timber before 1100 AD by the Normans to control the lands they had conquered in North Gwent.

In 1201, the three castles were granted to Hubert de Burgh, a powerful Marcher lord under King John, who proceeded to rebuild Grosmont in stone between 1201 and 1230.

Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle was built by the invading English king Edward I between 1282 and 1289. The castle was captured by Owain Glyndŵr in 1404 and retaken by the English in 1409. Harlech Castle was fought over in both the War of the Roses and the English Civil War. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Beaumaris, Conwy and Caernarfon.

Monmouth Castle

Monmouth Castle probably started out in the 11th century AD as a wooden fortress surrounded by an oval ditch. In 1067, William Fitz Osbern had been granted the lordship of Hereford and used Monmouth Castle as a base to subdue the adjacent Welsh districts of Archenfield and Gwent.

The establishment of Monmouth Castle was Fitz Osbern’s attempt to stamp his authority on the region with a stronghold overlooking the confluence of the Monnow and Wye Rivers. The wooden fortress was replaced by a stone one in the 12th century.

Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle is a fairly magical place. Begun in the 1430’s for show rather than battle, Raglan Castle held out for 13 weeks against Oliver Cromwell’s forces during the English Civil War. The parliamentary forces then proceeded to demolish the castle which left it in its present state.

Raglan Castle is well known for its Tudor styling and is most closely associated with William ap Thomas, who fought with King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Due to William ap Thomas’ experiences in France, the French influence on Raglan Castle is considerable.

Skenfrith Castle

Skenfrith Castle is one of three castles including White Castle and Grosmont Castle built before 1100 AD by the Normans to control the lands they had won in North Gwent.

All three castles were granted to Hubert de Burgh who became king’s justiciar and rebuilt Skenfrith in stone between 1228 and 1232 AD.

The Great Tower of the castle was the castle’s main residence and stronghold. The Great Tower was built to a height that allowed archers on its battlements to shoot over the outer walls.

White Castle

White Castle gets its name from the white rendering which once covered its outer walls.

White Castle is the most impressive of three castles used by the Normans to conquer this part of Wales. The other two castles of the so-called Three Castles in this area are Skenfrith and Grosmont.

The castle was built on a hill and commands magnificent views to the north, south, and west. White Castle clearly served as a military outpost and watch post against the Welsh.