Caernarfon Castle — Attraction in Caernarfon

No dogs policy has meant we had to wait for a day cool enough to leave ours in the car for a couple of hours so have been unable to visit until now. If dog policy were ever to change, please note they'd be unable to manage the stone spiral stairs up each tower anyway thus you'd miss a lot (just as a person with mobility difficulties is unable to climb the steps and walk around inside). My husband was able to go up the stairs and to walk through intect corridors and up onto the ramparts where no photograph could do the views justice!

That said, Castell Caernarfon is as impressive inside as it is when viewed from the outside.

Very nice (modern) touches with padlocks and guttering - see photos - and tasteful homages to the many skilled tradesmen who built this impressive structure using only hand tools and elbow grease. The reminders in each exhibition made me look afresh at the incredible skill of our forbears.

There is ample seating dotted around and a cafe too. We found access to the Welch Regimental Museum (included in castle entrance fee) to be badly signposted so we accessed it - like many others - thru the disabled person's entry/exit aka accessible entrance. It is staffed by ex-servicemen who are very happy to be asked questions. The exhibits spanned centuries to today and were packed full of interesting exhibits and info even to non-Forces families like ours.

That said, there is a database of those who served in the First and Second World Wars and I was delighted to unexoectedly pick up 3 likely leads on my mother's father's side of my family to follow up.

Both the castle and the regimental museum are well worth a visit. We stayed 2. 5 hours (having parked on the street alongside the Welsh Highland terminus IN THE SHADE for our dogs welbeing and parking time was running out.

We had not quite seen everything in that time but as English Heritage members we could visit for FREE (due to a reciprocal arrangement with CADW) so we know we will visit again to...

I would recommend visiting Caernarfon Castle, it has many interesting internal exhibitions and displays. It's not cheap to enter but worth the entrance fee. It is a medieval fortress with a rich history, notably

Construction: The castle was built by King Edward I of England in the late 13th century as part of his campaign to conquer Wales. Construction began in 1283, and it was designed to be an imposing and formidable structure.

Architecture: Caernarfon Castle is an impressive example of military architecture. It features polygonal towers, curtain walls, and a distinctive Eagle Tower, which is the most prominent part of the castle. The design was influenced by the walls of Constantinople.

Purpose: The castle was intended to serve as a symbol of English dominance over Wales and as a seat of government. It was also strategically positioned to control the Menai Strait and access to the Isle of Anglesey.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Caernarfon Castle, along with several other castles in Wales, is part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Royal Connections: The castle has a strong connection to the Prince of Wales, as it was the site of the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales in 1969.

Tourist Attraction: Today, Caernarfon Castle is a popular tourist attraction and can get busy.

Pop Culture: The castle has made appearances in various films and TV shows, most notably as a filming location for the TV series "I, Claudius."

Caernarfon Castle is not only historically significant but also an architectural marvel, offering a glimpse into medieval Welsh and English history.

Ample paid car parking nearby most using the pay...

Value for money just amazing ,, beautiful structured building don't forget to pack some decent shoes , because there are a lot of battlements and turrets to climb and child's dream ,, Caernarfon Castle 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. About Caernarfon Castle (Cadw) Royal fortress-palace built on legends and bitter medieval conflict.

Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages.

This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site. But for sheer scale and architectural drama Caernarfon stands alone.

Here Edward and his military architect Master James of St George erected a castle, town walls and a quay all at the same time. This gigantic building project eventually took 47 years and cost a staggering £25,000.The castle was born out of bitter war with Welsh princes. So of course its immense curtain walls and daunting King’s Gate were designed to withstand assault. But the polygonal towers, eagle statues and multi-coloured masonry sent a more subtle message.

These echoed imperial Roman architecture, especially the walls of Constantinople. They also recalled the Welsh myth of Macsen Wledig, who dreamed of a great fort at the mouth of a river – ‘the fairest that man ever saw’.

So Caernarfon is a castle of dreams. A legend brought to life. Even after 700 years it still stirs the imagination like no other...