A brute of a fortress. Caernarfon Castle’s pumped-up appearance is unashamedly muscle-bound and intimidating. Picking a fight with this massive structure would have been a daunting prospect. By throwing his weight around in stone, King Edward I created what is surely one of the most impressive of Wales’s castles. Worthy of World Heritage status no less!
Most castles are happy with round towers, not Caernarfon! Polygonal towers were the order of the day, with the Eagle Tower being the most impressive of these. You will also note the colour-coded stones carefully arranged in bands.
The site of this great castle wasn’t chosen by accident. It had previously been the location of a Norman motte and bailey castle and before that a Roman fort stood nearby. The lure of water and easy access to the sea made the banks of the River Seiont an ideal spot for Edward’s monster in masonry.
Edward wasn’t one to miss on an opportunity to tighten his grip even further on the native population. The birth of his son, the first English Prince of Wales, in the castle in 1284, was a perfect device to stamp his supremacy. In 1969 the current Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles’s investiture took place here.
Caernarfon Castle Caernarfon Castle
Useful Information
News & Special Offers
Ask about free entry if you are 60 and over or 16 and under and live in Wales.
Entrance Charge
- Adult: £4.95 Reduced Rate: £4.60
- Family Ticket: £14.50 (admits 2 adults & all children under 16)
- Children Under 5: FREE
- Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Prices valid until 31st March 2010
Opening Times
Last admission 30 mins before closing. 1 Apr 09 -31 Oct 09 Daily 9am - 5pm. 1 Nov 09 - 31 Mar 10: Mon - Sat 9.30am - 4pm Sun 11am-4pm Closed 24, 25, 26 Dec, 1 Jan
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