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

Kidwelly Castle Kidwelly, Dyfed, SA17 5BQ, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)1554 890104

Kidwelly Castle stands on a mound overlooking the River Gwendraeth in Carmarthenshire, south Wales.

The imposing stone castle of today dates from the 13th century and was constructed by the de Chaworth family - although it later had a succession of owners - on the site of earlier 12th century earthworks. The design is concentric, with an inner ward flanked by round towers, and an outer layer of defence. At the end of the 13th century the castle passed to the Earl of Lancaster, who added, among other things, the beautiful chapel. The outer walls were developed later in the 14th century. The huge, imposing southern gatehouse was also begun then, but took a century to complete and was unfinished when Owain Glyndwr waged an attack in 1403.

By the 17th century the castle no longer functioned as a fortification, and had no significant role in the Civil War. Today Kidwelly is one of the most fascinating and best preserved castles in Wales. The courtyard and square inner ward are the oldest surviving parts, although there is much else to see. You can walk along the intact walls of the outer ward and admire the dramatic location, or explore the atmospheric towers and the huge three-storey southern gatehouse, which contains a dungeon.

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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