Places to go > Mid-Wales > Cilgerran 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 ................................................. _________________________________

Mid-Wales attractions: Centre for Alternative Technology Ceredigion Museum Cilgerran Castle Llanthony Priory National Library of Wales Powis Castle Strata Florida Abbey Tretower Castle & Court Vale of Rheidol Railway ................................................. _________________________________

Cilgerran Castle Nr Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.

The romantic ruins of Cilgerran Castle sit perched on a promontory above the scenic wooded gorge of the Teifi River, close to Cardigan in mid-Wales.

A Norman stronghold was initially built on the site, although the castle was redeveloped in the 13th century by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, and nothing now remains of the original ruins. Cilgerran was captured by the Welsh but then retaken by Marshal's son. The castle fell into disrepair until the 14th century when it was refortified under Edward III, although little remains of the northwest tower he added. It was later abandoned, and its timeworn ruins and picturesque setting have attracted visitors ever since the rediscovery of the site by the romantic artists of the 18th century.

The two large defensive drum towers are well preserved, and there is a wall-walk along the castle ramparts, which commands magnificent views over the valley. Below the castle there is a quay on the edge of the river from where you can take a boat trip though the scenic surroundings. Cilgerran Castle is associated in folklore with Nest, the Welsh 'Helen of Troy', who was abducted from the castle by Owain, son of the Prince of Powys, in 1109.

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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