The Norman fortifications and castles of North Wales are one of the area’s major tourist attractions. And rightly so: the buildings are majestic and offer spectacular views of the Welsh countryside. And they are now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But why were all these walled towns and fortifications necessary in the first place? And what can you see when you get there?
Contents
History Of The Castles Of North Wales
These castles and walled towns date back to the end of the 13th century. At this time King Edward I of England started to colonise Wales, following a series of invasions and skirmishes with Welsh princes. This led him to create permanent settlements in strategic locations, and over time these became important administrative centres.
The residents were all English settlers; the original Welsh inhabitants were banned from the towns and forced to live elsewhere. Not surprisingly, this caused resentment, and there were frequent attacks from the Welsh. As a result Edward created a so-called “Ring of Iron”, or “Iron Ring of Castles”, a series of castles and fortifications intended to control the local population. As a result the new towns were protected by castles and enclosed by strong walls.
Castles And Town Walls Of King Edward In Gwynedd
The building of the new castles was a costly project and in fact some of them were never completed. And they were not entirely impregnable. Over the centuries the walled towns were attacked and besieged, and by the 20th century many were in ruins. Attempts were made to preserve them from further decline and in 1986 the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The UNESCO inscription includes the fortresses and town walls of Conwy and Caernarfon, and the castles of Harlech and Beaumaris. The fortifications were described as the “finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”, combining technical mastery with aesthetic principles. They were also recognised for the wealth of documentation that has survived, making them an important source of medieval history.
The Gwynedd Castles Today
The grandeur of the buildings is attributable to Edward I. He based their design on Norman castles that he had seen in Europe (he also remodelled the Tower of London along the same lines). Part of their appeal today is their authenticity: there was some reconstruction to Caernarfon Castle in the 19th century, but otherwise the castles and wall circuits included in the World Heritage Site have remained substantially the same since King Edward’s time.
Of the four sites in the UNESCO inscription, Caernarfon and Conwy are particularly attractive to visitors, with splendid castles as well as extensive town walls to walk around.
The Walled Town Of Denbigh
Denbigh Castle and town walls were also the work of Edward I. They are not part of the World Heritage Site, presumably because they are not in Gwynedd, and perhaps also because the castle is small and the walls are incomplete. However it is fun to explore. You enter the walls through a locked gate (you have to borrow a key from the Castle Visitor Centre). If you are lucky – as we were – this can mean that you get the walls entirely to yourself. It was a short but pleasant walk with spring flowers and birdsong, and wonderful views across the Clwydian Hills.
I tried to imagine what it would have been like to patrol these walls in the Middle Ages. It is rather more peaceful now!
Other Castles In Wales
Although the World Heritage Site covers castles in Gwynedd, you will find medieval castles all around the country, many of them operated by the National Trust. A particularly impressive place to visit is Pembroke Castle, the largest privately owned castle in Wales.
