Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe. The castles of North Wales are classed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. They were built on the orders of Edward the 1st (of Braveheart fame), to subjugate the Welsh in the late 13th century. After he had invaded Wales Edward promised the Welsh nobles that he would select a ruler of Wales who was born in Wales and spoke no English. The nobles agreed eagerly and Edward went into Caernarfon Castle and reappeared with his newborn son. The Prince of Wales from this point on would always be the first born son of the King of England and he would be crowned at Caernarfon Castle.
South Wales has castles aplenty and they are easily accessible from Cardiff or Swansea. Henry the VII, the father of Henry the VIII was born in Pembroke Castle while Caerphilly Castle near Cardiff is Wales’s biggest and the 3rd biggest in Britain after Windsor and Dover. Join the Wandering Bard and look back into Wales’s medieval history at Tours of Wales.
