Places to go > North Wales > Harlech 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 ................................................. _________________________________

North Wales attractions: Anglesey Sea Zoo Beaumaris Castle Bodnant Garden Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber Caernarfon Castle Capel Garmon Burial Chamber Castell Dinas Bran Chirk Castle Conwy Castle Denbigh Castle Erddig Hall Ffestiniog Railway Harlech Castle National Portrait Gallery, Wales Penrhyn Castle Plas Newydd, Anglesey Plas Newydd, Llangollen Rhuddlan Castle Segontium Roman Fort Snowdon Mountain Railway Tre'r Ceiri Hillfort Valle Crucis Abbey Welsh Mountain Zoo ................................................. _________________________________

Harlech Castle Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2YH, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)1766 780552

Majestically overlooking Tremadog Bay on the west coast of north Wales, Harlech Castle is one of the most striking of Edward I's 'Iron Ring' of fortresses and is undoubtedly one of the finest castles in Wales.

Construction of the castle began in 1983 and was overseen by the famous military architect Master James of St George. The design is concentric, with the inner walls containing domestic buildings, and the outer walls providing additional protection that was enhanced by the impressive twin-towered gatehouse on the east side. Perched on a rocky promontory 200ft above the sea, the castle had the advantage of strong natural defences, although the tides have since receded leaving a sandy beach in place of the waves that would once have lashed the cliffs on the castle's seaward side.

Despite its strong defences, the castle was overrun in 1404 by Welsh leader Owain Glyndwr, and retaken again in 1409 by the English. During the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century the Lancastrians held out against the Yorkists for a record-breaking seven years, inspiring the song 'Men of Harlech'. Harlech was the last Royalist stronghold to fall during the Civil War in the 17th century. Largely intact, and boasting breathtaking views from its battlements, the castle is now a World Heritage Site.

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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