Places to go > South Wales > Cardiff 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 ................................................. _________________________________

Cardiff Castle Cardiff, Glamorgan, CF10 3RB, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)2920 878100

Cardiff Castle lies in the heart of the capital city of Cardiff in south Wales, and is renowned for its spectacular mixture of architectural styles.

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. It was then radically transformed during the 19th century into a spectacularly lavish Gothic fantasy palace by William Burges, who designed the building for the third Marquis of Bute, one of the wealthiest men in the world.

Burges, who was also responsible for the fanciful design of nearby Castell Coch, added many elaborate features, including the beautifully ornate Clock Tower. The opulent Victorian interiors contain splendid murals and sculptures, while in the surrounding grounds you can see the Roman remains, as well as the Norman shell keep. Visitors to the castle will be struck by the dramatic contrast between the early stonework and the Victorian embellishments, which provide an evocative insight into the historical transitions through which the castle has lived.

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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