Rate it
Helpful Tools
Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle, built over seven years from 1283, formed part of Edward I's 'iron ring' of castles surrounding the coastal fringes of Snowdonia.
Situated 200 feet above the shoreline of Tremadoc Bay, Harlech's superb location provided it with naturally strong defences.
The castle played a key role in the national uprising led by Owain Glyndwr, the self-named Prince of Wales. Glyndwr led a rebellion against the repressive English crown and in 1404 Harlech Castle fell to his forces. For a while it looked like an independent Wales might be born. The castle became Glyndwr's headquarters and it is where he is believed to have summoned parliaments and gathered his guerrilla forces. It was only after a long siege in 1408 that Harlech was retaken by English forces under Harry of Monmouth, later Henry V.
Today, you can discover its wonderful concentric design, its rectangular inner bailey with round towers at each corner and a magnificent gatehouse inside. Note its unusual feature - the "way from the sea". This is a fortified stairway down to the foot of the cliffs where, at the time of construction, the sea reached. It was a genius of planning, as it allowed Harlech to withstand the many sieges - including one that carried on for seven years - by being supplied through the sea. Harlech Castle still appears a formidable sight today - its unyielding strength and dominance are set against a backdrop of the magnificent Snowdonia mountain range.
Events from Cadw
Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service events programme for 2007 sees some of Wales' most famous castles and abbeys providing dramatic backdrops for plays, pageants, battles and military displays.From Criccieth Castle in north Wales to Caerphilly Castle in the south, Cadw has arranged a feast of over 270 family friendly events across twenty sites.
April highlights
The season kicks off at Criccieth Castle on 6 April with 'The Wise Woman' offering medicinal tips and talking about herb lore through the ages. Songs and ballads played on the lute and Celtic harp will also be provided on the same day by Scott Baker and Bethan Nia.
Other April highlights include Samhain's Life in Glyn Dwr's Wales at Chepstow Castle (8 to 9 April) and Marcher Stuarts' display of The Servants at the Court at Tretower Court and Castle (28 to 29) near Brecon, mid Wales.
May highlights
At Plas Mawr (6 May), the restored Elizabethan townhouse in the heart of medieval Conwy in north Wales will become centre stage for entertainers Renaissance Footnotes, who will perform music and dancing from Tudor and Stuart times.
Other events in May include 14th Century Military Life in The Retinue Of John Plantagenet with the Company of Chivalry at Caerphilly Castle (7 May) and the Company of Bow will demonstrate the skills of 15thCentury archers at Kidwelly Castle, in south-west Wales on 27 May.
June highlights
June sees the Raglan Music Festival at Raglan Castle (10 June) with music and song from the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir. If drama's more your thing, don't miss Anvil Productions' performance of their acclaimed version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew at St David's Bishops Palace on 28 June.
July highlights
A Roman extravaganza is in store at Caerleon Roman Amphitheatre on 7 July, with a living history encampment featuring Roman soldiers. At the Gothic fairytale Castell Coch on the outskirts of Cardiff, The Spellbinder will tell tales from Aesop's Fables on 28 July.
Cadw is the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service with responsibility for protecting, conserving and promoting an appreciation of the historic environment of Wales. This includes historic buildings, ancient monuments, historic parks and gardens, landscapes and underwater archaeology. For more information on the 2007 events calendar go to Cadw's website www.cadw.wales.gov.uk.
Select your bookmark
What is social bookmarking?