Llantrisant Castle — Attraction in Llantrisant

A dark, ivy-covered ruined tower is all that is left of one of the more important 13th-century castles of Glamorgan. It was built in about 1250 by Richard de Clare, lord of Glamorgan, to hold this hill district of Meisgyn which he had just wrestled from its Welsh overlords. The castle's strategic and commanding position, guarding the important route from the upland to the lowland zone, is very apparent.

The castle stands on a flat-topped blunt spur on the edge of a steep drop to the south. Parts of the spur's stone revetment are still visible, and ditches separate it from the rest of the ridgetop on the east and west sides. The north side of a circular tower, once called the Raven, is the main upstanding stonework of the castle. Details of a doorway half-way up it point to a mid-13th century date, and also give an idea of the height of the curtain wall, the wall-walk of which was originally reached from this doorway. The curtain wall would have skirted the spur, but very little of it survives. On the south-west flank there is a much-overgrown base of a half-round projecting tower.

The open green to the north of the castle is the probable site of the bailey, but no traces of earthwork or masonry defences survive. The church to the west was originally an aisled Norman church before...

Just one crumbling tower remaining but "A City That Is Set On An Hill Cannot Be Hid". Two goats to enjoy the grass and the view - also available to humans. The recently restored Guildhall next door is also well worth a visit, with displays of the history of the village, its connections to the Battle of Crecy and its famous, former, occupant Dr William Price. The photos show a little of the Medieval Festival that was part of the grand opening of the newly...

Went on a ghost walk around the town and was amazed with the grizzly history of the place. Didn't even know it had a castle and I lived close by. A very friendly and quirky place, but also lovely to just sit and relax in the grounds around it. The full history can be found in the Guild Hall, which is free, and reputed to be very haunted to 👻. Parking is not easy but still...