Caerphilly Castle |
||||||||||
|
Caerphilly Castle effortlessly dominates the town of Caerphilly. It sprawls over a huge area (30 acres in all) making it the biggest in Wales and, along with Windsor and Dover, the largest in Britain. The castle was built in the late 13th century by the Anglo-Norman lord Gilbert de Clare, to consolidate his grip on the lands he had captured. The Fortress impressed onlookers right from the start, an awstruck 14th century Welsh poet describing it as "giant Caerfilli".
De Clare's castle, a high point in medieval military architecture, is a supreme example of the concentric walls within walls system of defence. Water as well as stone played a crucial role here. The castle's outstanding water defences extend far beyond those of a mere moat. Lakes were created together with three artificial islands, making the castle almost impregnable to siege warfare. If attackers did manage to reach the walls they would have been faced with a formidable series of fortifications protecting the castle's inner core.
Particularly noteworthy features include the gatehouse, great hall and full-sized working replicas of medieval siege engines. Often threatened, but (unsurprisingly) never taken, the castle still intimidates the onlooker. Its only sign of weakness is a leaning tower which even out-leans Pisa's world famous example, possibly caused by subsidence.
General Information:
| More Pictures | |
 |
 |
|
Opening Times
|
|
(2009 times)
1st April to 31st October:Daily 9.00am - 5.00pm. 1st November to 31st March: Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 4.00pm. Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm. |
|
Admission Charges
|
|
(2009 prices)
Adult £3.60; Concession £3.20. Family ticket (2 + all children/grandchildren under 16) £10.40. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 5yrs Free. |
|
Directions
|
| A468 from Newport, A470, A469 from Cardiff. |
| Show map of Caerphilly Castle... |
|
Caerphilly Castle Postcode for SatNav: CF83 1JD |
|
Nearby Attractions
|
|
Castell Coch
(3 Miles)*
Castell Coch is a late nineteenth-century fairytale-style castle, built on medieval remains. |
|
Llandaff Cathedral
(5 Miles)*
The ancient Celtic Cross, which stands near the Chapter House doorway, testifies to the tradition of 1400 years of Christian worship. The earliest parts of the present Cathedral however, date from the twelfth century |
|
Llancaiach Fawr Manor House
(6 Miles)*
Visitors to Llancaiach Fawr Manor step back in time to the year 1645. They are greeted and shown around by the "servants" of the owner. |
| more attractions in Caerphilly and things to do in Caerphilly ... |
| more things to do in South Wales and days out in South Wales... |
|
Nearby Hotels
|
|
Nearby Self Catering
|
|
National Trust | Estate Agents |
Copyright © 1999-2012 Excelsior Information Systems Limited.
All rights reserved.
Press Room Terms of Use Privacy Link to Us Index Site Map
