Cardiff Castle

A highlight of visiting Cardiff is touring Cardiff Castle.

Like other castles we have visited, the castle in Cardiff has a long and varied history.  The Romans arrived in Cardiff in 48 A.D.  They were looking to conquer the region and extract its gold.  They built a series of forts, but eventually left town in the 400’s.  

Fast forward to the Norman era.  In the 11th and 12 centuries, a hill and wooden fort were built.  Later, a stone fortress was constructed, which is still standing.  

Fast forward to the 1400’s, a stately home was built close to the fort.  The home was renovated and expanded over the next five centuries.  The last work was completed during the late 19th century in a Victorian-Medieval style and the home is extremely well preserved.  

Thus, Cardiff Castle is a sort of time capsule, covering nearly 2000 years of life in Cardiff.  We visited each part and below is a photographic tour.  

The Norman Castle:

Below is a barren stone room in the tower of the castle keep.  However, when the castle served as a home, the same room was comfortably luxurious, as illustrated in the depiction below.  

Below, some random hottie enjoys a view of lovely autumn leaves near the castle.  

Nearby is the stately home built and expanded during the 15th to 19th centuries.  The exterior is impressive but it is surpassed by the ornate interiors, which are extremely well preserved.

In the room pictured below, King Charles III recently met with First Minister of Wales.  A photo on the table (at left) commemorates the meeting.  

The Roman fort was quite large but little remains today, except some walls that have been partly excavated.

Below, you know who states next to one of the walls of the Roman fort.  

A recent addition to the site is a 1980’s mural that depicts life in the pre-Roman and Roman eras.   When the Romans arrived, a group named the Silurian inhabited the region.  The two groups battled for three decades and eventually reached a peaceful arrangement, based on the Romans trading silver for the Silurian’s gold.  

Thanks for visiting Cardiff Castle with us.  

P.S.  Some random hottie apparently did something and was put in the stocks.  Well deserved, to be sure.