Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle, in the heart of the capital of Wales, holds two thousand years of history within a single enclosure: the walls of a Roman fort, the Norman keep on an artificial mound and a lavish Victorian Gothic Revival palace, with fairy-tale decorated rooms. Surrounded by a large park, it is one of the must-sees of Cardiff and one of the most surprising castles in the United Kingdom.

History

In the 1st century AD the Romans built a fort here, rebuilt several times until the 3rd century, when it had stone walls three metres thick. After the Norman Conquest, around 1091, Robert Fitzhamon raised an artificial mound inside it with a timber tower, later replaced by a polygonal stone keep. Robert of Normandy, eldest son of William the Conqueror, was held prisoner in the castle for almost thirty years and died there in 1134.

In the 18th century the castle passed by marriage to the Bute family. The 3rd Marquess of Bute, thanks to the docks from which South Wales coal was shipped, became one of the richest men in the world. From 1868 he commissioned the architect William Burges to transform the residence into a Gothic Revival palace inspired by the Middle Ages, with towers, painted rooms, sculptures and religious and astrological symbols. During the Second World War the walls served as an air-raid shelter for thousands of residents. In 1947 the 5th Marquess gave the castle and park to the city.

What to see

The Victorian apartments

Burges's interiors are the highlight of the visit. The Banqueting Hall is decorated with scenes from the life of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and a great fireplace in the shape of a castle. The Arab Room has a gilded honeycomb ceiling inspired by Islamic architecture. The Clock Tower houses the summer and winter smoking rooms, with mosaic floors, stained glass and starry ceilings. The Nursery is painted with fairy-tale characters. Some rooms can only be seen on the guided tour, which is worth adding to your ticket.

The Norman keep

A steep flight of steps climbs to the keep, on the mound surrounded by a moat. From the top there is a fine view of the city, the Principality Stadium and the park.

The Roman walls and the shelters

Along the walls you can see sections of original Roman masonry, marked by a band of red stone. Inside the walls you can walk through the galleries used as air-raid shelters during the war, with reconstructions and the sounds of the bombing.

Firing Line and the park

The castle houses Firing Line, the museum of Welsh soldiers. All around stretches Bute Park, a large park along the River Taff, and on the outer wall along Castle Street is the Animal Wall, with sculptures of animals that seem to be climbing over it.

Practical information

The castle is open all year round; during concerts and events some areas may be closed. Guided tours of the apartments have limited places. Opening times and prices are on the official website.

Getting there

• On foot: about 10 minutes from Cardiff Central station.
• By air: Cardiff Airport is about 30 minutes away by bus or train.

Nearby

• Central Cardiff, with its Victorian shopping arcades, the National Museum and the bay.
• The open-air museum of St Fagans.
• Castell Coch, the fairy-tale "red castle" built by Burges for the same Marquess, and the Big Pit mine.

Tips

• How long: two or three hours, including the guided tour.
• When to go: all year round.
• A tip: book the apartments tour: Burges's most incredible rooms, such as those in the Clock Tower, can only be seen with a guide.

Cardiff Castle on the map

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