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Caernarfon Castle (Welsh: Castell Caernarfon; Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ kaɨrˈnarvɔn]) is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The first fortification on the site was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century, which King Edward I of England began to replace with the current stone structure in 1283.
Caernarfon (/ kərˈnɑːrvən, kɑːr -/; [2][3] Welsh: [kaɨrˈnarvɔn] ⓘ) is a royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales. It has a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). [4][5] It lies along the A487 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the island of Anglesey.
- Edward I's Castle Building
- The Curtain Walls
- The Eagle Tower
- The King's Gate
- The Town Walls
- A Monument of Monarchy
- Later History
From 1272 CE Edward I, the new king of England, conquered most of Wales and joined it with the county system present in England. Following the death of Llywelyn, the Prince of Wales, in 1282 CE, the only part of Wales which remained free was the wild mountainous north, and here the king built several major castles including Caernarfon, the most imp...
The castle's curtain or bailey walls enclose two bailey courtyards (aka wards), the lower and the upper bailey. Four of the 12 towers built into the curtain wall contained accommodation on different floors, a necessity for the 350 or so servants who would have been employed in the castle. The Queen's Tower was originally known as the Banner Tower b...
The castle keepis the Eagle Tower which was begun c. 1283 CE and completed c. 1317 CE. It dominates the castle with its three mighty turrets and received its name from the stone carving of an eagle attached to one of those turrets. The tower is around 30 metres (98 ft.) in height and has three floors and a basement which originally allowed access f...
In 1294 CE the castle was attacked, captured and torched by the Welsh leader Madog ap Llywelyn. The next year Edward retook his castle thanks to superior forces and control of the sea, but the episode necessitated a rebuilding of the town walls and led to a rethink regarding the castle's design. The result was the rebuilding programme mentioned abo...
The castle protected a significant nearby settlement which was given additional security via enclosing walls measuring some 734 metres (2,408 ft.) in length. This stone wall had eight towers, two gateways and essentially fortified the town against the ever-present threat of raids. The walls also included a wooden quay, a west and an east gatehouse,...
By building on a site with such a rich history already, Edward ensured that Caernarfon would certainly be noticed. The finished castle with its huge expense, massive stonework and bristling towers with their innovative polygonal form, was a crystal clear message that the English king was not only trampling on all who had come before him but that he...
In 1403 and 1404 CE, the castle was twice besieged by Owain Glyn Dwr who became Prince of Wales from 1404 to c. 1415 CE. By the mid-16th century CE, with no longer any necessity for a heavy military presence in the region, most of the castle was in ruins. Only the King's Gate and Eagle Tower still had their roofing in 1620 CE. The castle had certai...
- Mark Cartwright
While only a baby, his birth at Caernarfon was meant to show that he was a Welsh prince by right of conquest. Since the 14th century, Caernarfon Castle has frequently served as the site of the ceremony to name or invest the heir to the British throne as the Prince of Wales.
Sep 1, 2023 · Caernarfon Castle, one of Europe’s great medieval fortresses and is located in the town of Caernarfon in North Wales, UK. Its history, architecture, and significance make it an important symbol and attraction.
Caernarfon Castle (English spelling Caernarvon) is one of the top tourist attractions in the whole of Wales – and one of the most impressive castles in the whole of the UK. Why so impressive? Well, the entire little fishing town of Caernarfon is wrapped within the castle’s mighty stone walls.
Oct 3, 2024 · Caernarfon, town, Gwynedd county, historic county of Caernarvonshire (Sir Gaernarfon), northern Wales. It lies near the west end of the Menai Strait separating the mainland from the Isle of Anglesey. Caernarfon is the administrative centre of Gwynedd and the historic county town (seat) of Caernarvonshire.
