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Today, Cardiff Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Wales, with a unique opportunity to explore almost 2000 years of incredible history all in one place. Climb the mighty Norman shell keep and see our replica medieval trebuchet.
- Apartments
The oldest parts of the Castle’s residential buildings date...
- The Trebuchet
Located in a key position on outer green, the Trebuchet at...
- Apartments
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ most popular tourist attractions and a heritage site of international significance. Successive generations of occupants have made changes according to the needs and fashions of the time and, after almost 2,000 years, we’re still going.
Visit. A ticket to Cardiff Castle is a gateway to almost 2000 years of history, from Roman times through to the second world war. Surrounded by beautiful parklands on one side and a modern metropolis on the other, Cardiff Castle truly is the city’s historic heart.
- Roman Fort
- Rebuilt by The Normans
- De Clares
- Dastardly Despensers
- The Beauchamps
- The Nevilles
- The Tudors
- The Herberts
- Civil War
- The Butes
During the time of the Roman occupation in Britain the Romans built a fort at the site that is now Cardiff Castle. The position was chosen due to it’s important strategic significance as it was where the river Taff meets the Bristol channel. The Romans occupied the site from around AD.60 until the early 5th century. The Romans built a fort on the s...
The Normans spotted the strategic value of the old Roman fort and set about rebuilding it whilst also incorporating the ruins into their new motte and bailey castle. During this era there was much hostility between the Norman Lords and Welsh Princes. In 1093, Welsh Rhys ap Tewdwr was defeated by Robert Fitzhamon (Norman Lord of Gloucester) and Robe...
Gilbert de Clare died in 1230. Gilbert’s son, Richard, was only 8 years old at the time. Once he came of age he further strengthened his reign on the Welsh lords but died in 1962. Cardiff Castle passed on to Richard’s son, Gilbert 7th Earl of Gloucester, also known as Gilbert ‘the red’ (likely because of either his hair colour or fiery temperament ...
During the brief period between Gilbert de Clare’s death and when Hugh and Eleanor Despenser took over the Cardiff Castle, it passed into royal hands. During this time all Welshmen were removed from office and banished from the castle, further increasing the tensions and hatred towards the English. In 1316 bad weather had destroyed most of the crop...
The final dispenser was Isabel Despenser, who married Richard Beauchamp and so Cardiff Castle passed to the Beauchamps. Richard died in 1422 and Isabel went on to marry his cousin, also named Richard. After Owain Glyndwr’s defeat, Glamorgan entered a more peaceful phase and Richard began making plans to build new lodgings with a central octagonal t...
Cardiff Castle passed into the Neville family when Ann Beauchamp married Richard Neville (later the Earl of Warwick). Richard was a key figure in ‘The War of The Roses’, he was initially a Yorkist but swapped sides later and became a Lancastarian. He was instrumental in the removal and new placement of two kings, which earned him the nickname ‘King...
The Tudors originated from Wales and this helped ease the tensions between the English and Welsh. In 1495 the Marcher status at Cardiff Castle was formally revoked and the castle became less important for defence and its condition began to deteriorate.
In 1551, William Herbert (Earl of Pembroke) acquired Cardiff Castle from King Edward VI (William also was given Caerphilly and Castell Coch). William set about renovating the now dilapidated castle in the 1570’s. He wished to create a more palatial residence and succeeded in building an Elizabethan extension in the inner bailey, a shire hall, chape...
When the Civil War broke out in 1642, the castle’s owner was Philip Herbert. Philip was a Parliamentarian, however Wales was mostly pro-Royalist and the Royalists soon captured the castle. Cardiff castle was then won back by the Parliamentarians but before long a surprise attack from William Seymour put it back in Royalist hands, but not for long a...
The Bute family changed the fortunes of Cardiff Castle and Cardiff City. They brought immense prosperity to Cardiff City from coal exporting and refurbished and transformed Cardiff Castle into a magnificent gothic style castle. They also drastically renovated and altered the nearby Castell Coch. Lord Mount Stuart (1st Marquess of Bute) employed the...
- 11th Century
- Cardiff City
- Keep (Extensive Ruins) & Palace (Intact)
Cardiff Castle (Welsh: Castell Caerdydd) is a medieval castle and Victorian Gothic revival mansion located in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales. The original motte and bailey castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort.
Cardiff Castle is a living monument to the history of the British Isles, dating back to the Romans in the first century A.D. Roman masonry that remained from the original fort can be seen at the base of the Norman walls surrounding the keep.
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Nov 5, 2022 · Cardiff Castle’s history spans almost two thousand years and it is fascinating that you can still see all the various different era’s, from the Roman Wall remains to the Norman Keep to the Neo Gothic Mansion. This Castle is well worth a visit! Watch our video on the history and exploring Cardiff Castle below.
