There was much history about the following two castles, Caernarfon Castle and Harlech Castle, but too much to write about in this blog.
Caenarfon Castle. The first fortifications were built on the site by the Romans. After that the Princes of Wales generally kept their distance from England. After 1066 the Kings of England were keen to expand their lands and had limited success in taking over small areas of Wales.
In 1282, it all changed, and war broke out between England and Wales, and in1283 King Edward I was victorious against Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales (1238-1283), the independent ruler of Wales. He was finally executed by Edward I.
Edward I then set about building castles, in Caenarfon, in Harlech and in five other locations. Caenarfon Castle was finished in 1330. Many of the interior buildings were never finished, and many never survived the centuries that followed. However the outer castle walls were still mostly complete. A very grand and imposing structure.
There was a short film about the castle. The circular screen was very impressive. I loved the patterns.
The view over the square in Caenarfon.
Looking through the narrow walkways.
There was a Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum situated in the castle, which told the story of 300 years of service by Wales' oldest infantry regiment, in peacetime and in war, all over the world.
The tradition of the regiment, was to have a goat, always called Billy, which was a member of the regiment, and never a mascot.
Mia liked the dress up clothes, and Isabel liked the activities. Great salute from Mia.
We sat in the square afterwards and drank coffee (adults) and ate ice creams (adults and children). Aaron went to another shop and bought the best ice cream, which we all admired. Our icecreams were very ordinary, as was the coffee. It pays to look around before purchasing.
A great view of the castle.
A view of Harlech Castle on a beautiful sunny day.
But on the day that Walter and I visited Harlech Castle, there was a gale blowing, as can be seen by our windswept hair in this 'selfie' photo.
The shell of Harlech Castle, a World Heritage Site, There was a magnificent Visitors' Centre, nearly completed, which will tell the story of the castle, in comfort, rather than in the draughty room within the castle walls. The new bridge that crossed the old moat will also be sturdy. We had to cross a rickety temporary bridge, which on a windy day, was a little scary, to say the least.
At first glance this doorway in the photograph below appeared to drop away to the ground far below, but in fact it was only a few steps down. Very deceiving.
A housing development, and road, below the cliffs. When the castle was built in the 13th century, the sea came to the edge of the cliff, on which was the castle was built. Now there were dunes and farmland, plus the houses and road between the castle and the sea.
The many indentations in the tower walls, where once there would have been floors and doorways.
And afterwards a well deserved ice cream, locally made, and delicious. Except that it was very windy and cold outside.
Castles, always interesting places to visit.
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