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

Raglan Castle Raglan, Usk, Gwent, NP15 2BT, Wales, UK. Tel. 44 (0)1291 690228

Raglan Castle is a magnificent late medieval fortress lying seven miles west of Monmouth in south Wales.

Constructed on the site of a previous Norman motte and bailey, building began in 1435 on the elaborate Great Tower - a hexagonal keep surrounded by a moat - under the direction of William ap Thomas. The castle was intended as a stately home as well as a fortress, and the design reveals a French influence. Thomas's son, William Herbert, enhanced the castle's palatial splendour by adding the lavishly decorated gatehouse and sumptuous accommodation apartments. An impressive banqueting hall and long gallery were added later in the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century the castle held out against Parliamentary forces in one of the longest sieges of the Civil War, before being forced to surrender. Despite the damage it endured, Raglan is regarded as one of the most splendid and handsome castles in all of Wales. Much of the Great Tower was destroyed, but overall the majestic sandstone ruins are well preserved. Many details of Tudor elegance remain in the fine hall, and parts of the ornate Renaissance fireplace can be seen in the long gallery. The site has exhibitions relating to the castle's colourful history and is surrounded by lovely parkland.

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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