Places to go > South Wales > Caerphilly Castle < Castles & Forts < Things to do

Castles & Forts: Beaumaris Castle, Wales Caernarfon Castle, Wales Caerphilly Castle, Wales Cardiff Castle, Wales Carew Castle, Wales Carreg Cennen Castle, Wales Carrickfergus Castle, N. Ireland Castell Coch, Wales Castell Dinas Bran, Wales Chirk Castle, Wales Cilgerran Castle, Wales Conwy Castle, Wales Denbigh Castle, Wales Dinefwr Castle, Wales Dundrum Castle, N. Ireland Dunluce Castle, N. Ireland Dunseverick Castle, N. Ireland Dunster Castle, England Enniskillen Castle, N. Ireland Harlech Castle, Wales Kidwelly Castle, Wales Pembroke Castle, Wales Powis Castle, Wales Raglan Castle, Wales Rhuddlan Castle, Wales Tretower Castle & Court, Wales ................................................. _________________________________

South Wales attractions: Aberglasney Gardens Big Pit National Mining Musem Blaenafon Ironworks Brecon Mountain Railway Caerleon Roman Fortress Caerphilly Castle Cardiff Castle Carew Castle Carreg Cennen Castle Castell Coch Dinefwr Castle Dolaucothi Gold Mine Kidwelly Castle Museum of Welsh Life National Botanic Garden of Wales Pembroke Castle Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber Raglan Castle Rhondda Heritage Park Roman Legionary Museum St David's Cathedral Tintern Abbey ................................................. _________________________________

Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly, Glamorgan, CF83 1JD, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)2920 883143

The majestic medieval fortress of Caerphilly is the biggest castle in Wales, and is situated seven miles north of Cardiff in the south.

Lying in a valley and occupying over 30 acres of land, the castle was designed by Anglo-Norman Lord Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century and was the first concentric-styled castle to be built in the UK. The valley was flooded and a fortified dam constructed for extra layers of defence, making it appear totally impregnable. Before its defences were complete it was badly damaged by Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Last, but quickly repaired. Due to Edward I's conquest of Wales the castle saw few battles and was left to decay for many years.

In the 20th century Caerphilly was restored by the fourth Marquis of Bute, and in 1958 the castle's huge moat was re-flooded. Most of the 13th century architecture is still intact, and the huge inner east gatehouse has been well restored. The Great Hall was re-roofed at the end of the 19th century. 'The Leaning Tower' is one of Caerphilly's famous features, and refers to the southeastern tower of the inner ward, which is noticeably askew. The outer gatehouse contains an exhibition on the history of the castle, and there is a collection of medieval siege engines.

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UK Castles & Forts in our Castles tour section:

Beaumaris Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caerphilly Castle
Cardiff Castle
Carew Castle
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carrickfergus Castle
Castell Coch
Castell Dinas Bran
Chirk Castle
Cilgerran Castle
Conwy Castle
Denbigh Castle
Dinefwr Castle
Dundrum Castle
Dunluce Castle
Dunseverick Castle
Dunster Castle
Enniskillen Castle,
Harlech Castle,
Kidwelly Castle
Pembroke Castle
Powis Castle
Raglan Castle
Rhuddlan Castle
Tretower Castle
Edinburgh Castle

Other Wales travel related links:

Wales hotel
Wales tour
Cottage holiday in Wales
Wales hostel