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

Pembroke Castle Pembroke, Dyfed, SA71 4LA, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)1646 681510

Pembroke Castle lies on the bank of the River Cleddau in Pembroke, south Wales.

The imposing castle was developed from a Norman fort into the existing building in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was associated with the powerful earls of Pembroke, and was also the birthplace of Henry Tudor, the first Tudor king, in 1457. In a strategic position on top of a high ridge surrounded by a tidal moat, with a massive gatehouse, the mighty stronghold appears impregnable, and it held out against Cromwell during the Civil War for 48 days. Cromwell finally defeated the castle by cutting the water supply off, after which he attacked the walls and towers.

The castle's most famous and impressive feature is its 75ft Norman circular keep, which is regarded as one of the finest of its type. Its walls are 19ft thick at the base, and it is capped by a stone dome. You can climb the spiral stairs to the top of the tower for captivating views, and you can also walk along the castle walls. The castle has been extensively restored and there are many rooms to explore in the towers and battlements. As well as the main gatehouse, the Old Norman Hall, the Dungeon Tower, and the residential rooms, there is a spiral staircase descending to a huge natural cave beneath the castle, known as Wogan Cavern, which was formed by the tides of the river.

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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