Cardiff Castle
January 18th, 2007
Cardiff Castle (Welsh: Castell Caerdydd) in Wales was founded by the in 1091, on the site of a Roman fort whose remains can still be seen. The castle’s most well-known occupant was Robert, Duke of Normandy, who was imprisoned there by his younger brother, King Henry I of England, from 1106 until 1134. In 1158 it was the scene for a daring kidnapping carried out by one Ifor Bach (Ivor the Little). The Welsh took it again in 1404, under Owain Glyndŵr. In 1488, it came into the possession of Jasper Tudor.
During the 19th century, a new mock medieval castle was built to the design of William Burges, architect to the Earl of Bute, as a residence. The castle was later given to the city of Cardiff by the Bute family. It is now a popular tourist attraction, and houses a regimental museum in addition to the ruins of the old castle and the Victorian reconstruction.
The castle is set near Cardiff’s busy city centre and sits in the expansive grounds of Bute Park. The city’s civic centre, Cathays Park is also nearby. Confusingly, the castle is not located on Castle Street but nearby Duke Street.
Cardiff Castle plays host to Cardiff University’s Summer Ball each year. It is also the site of Wales’ largest Mardi Gras held every August.
The castle has hosted a number of rock concerts and performances and has the capacity to accommodate over 10,000 people
Entry Filed under: Places to visit in Glamorgan, Castles
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