Cathays Park in Cardiff is one of Europe's finest Civic Centres, built in the early years of the…read more20th century to reflect Cardiff's rapid development as a major city and trading port, largely due to the export of coal. What had been a small town of a few thousand souls in 1800 was, by 1900, the largest coal exporting port in the world, and home to over 150,000. A key figure in the early life of Cardiff was the local landowner, the 1st Marquess of Bute. He was responsible for the rebuilding of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch, and in 1898 sold what had been the grounds of a Georgian Mansion to the City to enable construction of the Civic Centre. It now contains the National Museum of Wales, the main buildings of the University, administrative buildings of the Welsh Assembly, Law Courts and, as its crowning glory, Cardiff City Hall. Completed in 1904 and built in white Portland stone, this magnificent baroque building was designed by the firm Lanchester, Stewart and Rickards after an architectural competition. The basic design includes an imposing central dome and entrance portico, with an offset 194ft (60m) tall bell tower. The external statuary represents the City's three rivers, the Taff, Rhymney and Ely. The bell tower is something of a landmark, and contains five bells, each inscribed with a motto in English or Welsh: Hour bell: 'Y gwir yn erbyn y byd' (His truth against the world) 1st Quarter - 'I mark time, dost thou?' 2nd Quarter - 'Duw a phob daioni' (God is all goodness) 3rd Quarter - 'Time conquers all and we must time obey' 4th Quarter - 'A gair Duw yn uchaf' (God's voice on high) Inside the main entrance hall has two grand staircases leading to the grand first floor reception, appropriately called the 'Marble Hall'. The most impressive internal rooms (there are also offices, of course) are the Council Chamber and the Great Assembly Hall. The latter possesses three huge bronze chandeliers and has been used for all sorts of functions, from dinner dances (which my Mum and Dad used to attend for 1/6 in the 1950s!) to banquets for Royalty and visiting Heads of State. The Council Chamber, of oak and Breccia Marble, is also worth a look, and was used for a meeting of the European Council in 1998. The Edwardian period was a time when Wales was rediscovering its history and confidence, and so the interior reception halls - especially that on the first floor - are decked out with the best Edwardian marble statues of Welsh heroes and heroines by noted sculptors of the day. To modern eyes, apart form the dubious historical accuracy, they are a bit overblown, but impressive nonetheless. Better is the building's impressive art collection, mostly of late Victorian English painting, including some minor pre-raphaelite works by Blair Leighton and my favourite, 'Winter', by the Scottish artist, Joseph Farquharson, (much beloved of Christmas Cards). There are also portraits of political figures, such as Lloyd George, George Thomas and James Callaghan, and a rather odd triple portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales by John Merton (for hardened Diana fans only). As well as conferences, banquets and similar events, the Marble Hall is licensed for weddings and they can also cater for receptions for up to 500 guests.

I had my graduation ceremony in the Assembly Hall upstairs last year and was stunned how beautiful…read moreCity Hall is throughout. It really made my special day just that little more special as we sat in this historical building with beautiful marble all around. Staff on hand were fantastic and organised the whole thing brilliantly, and there were a lot of people there for things to get over whelming. City Hall also houses the beer and cider festival as well downstairs and is the Holy Grail of drinking festivals in my opinion. If you cannot get inside for any reason just check the grounds outside and take a picnic, it's beautiful in the summer and is a great break from the hustle and bustle of Queen street.

Gord and I spent the afternoon exploring Caerphilly Castle (Castell Caerffili), a 13th-century…read moremedieval fortress. Built by Gilbert de Clare around 1268, it was designed to control the region and resist Welsh attacks. It's the largest castle in Wales and the second-largest in Britain, famous for its advanced concentric design (multiple rings of defensive walls) and extensive water defenses (moats and artificial lakes). The castle was damaged early in its history, later fell into decline, and was restored in the 19th-20th centuries.

Currently during Covid, many castles are closed but Caerphilly is one of the only ones that are…read morestill open which I appreciate. It is also one of the only national exhibitions in Wales that needs an entrance fee so there's that. Also, it's apparently the largest castle in England which is quite interesting. Here are some of my observations: - The place, which although looks very big, can be walked through in 1.5-2 hours so don't need to budget a lot of time for this. - There's a lot of small passageways and staircases so would not advise bringing a big bag. I do appreciate how many pathways there are though so it seems like you are discovering a castle which is quite fun. - Interesting to learn about the history of this place. They do have a fake dragon area though which I thought was a little bit weird. - The location is great, next to a lot of restaurants in Caerphilly and the train station. Overall, solid castle, would go back again as it makes for a nice morning walk.

Coity Castle is a magical place full of distant battle cries and that incredible sense that…read moreimportant things have happened there. Built in 1100 and then rebuilt after a siege by Owain Glyndwr, this is a castle often overlooked by visitors to Wales, despite its extremely important part in Welsh history. Although other castles, such as Cardiff Castle, Caerphilly Castle and Castell Coch, are more visited, I would argue that it's the lesser known relics which are more interesting. This Medieval castle is built up on a hill, with clear evidence of moats, and looks almost like a half-rotten tooth sticking up into the sky. It has just as much grandeur and fairy-tale quality as a person could ask for in a castle. This historic site is well worth a visit; sunset will reward you will specular photographs and views.

This is another of South Wales's impressive Norman Castles, standing in ruins near the town of…read moreBridgend in South Wales, not far from Cardiff. It was built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who are supposed to have conquered the area under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Although it was originally built soon after 1100, a lot of the castle actually dates from the fourteenth century and later. Parts of it were rebuilt following the siege by Owain Glyn Dr in 1404-05. Despite being in ruins, there are still plenty of interesting features to see - including the remains of the central octagonal pillar for the vaults of the castle. If you have OS map 170 the reference is SS 923815. Nearby you can also visit Newcastle and Ogmore Castles in a day trip.

Initially a Norman castle, this great building appears to have been refortified by Henry II in the…read more1180s, which can be spotted in the very high quality of the masonry. Like many historic buildings in Wales, this castle is looked after by Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service. Free to visitors, the monument is set in a picturesque location overlooking the River Ogmore and the town of Bridgend. Established in the early 1100s by Robert FitzHamon, first Norman lord of Glamorgan, it's visited by quite a few tourists staying in Cardiff - often combining this site with visits to nearby Coity and Ogmore Castles, packing three monuments into one day. For those living in Cardiff these castles are also worth a day trip if you're interested in Welsh history and monuments, and on a fine day it makes a nice spot for a picnic or taking photos. If you have an OS map, the reference is 170: SS 902801

My undying memory of Castell Coch is being in the dungeon as an eight year old on school trip and…read morebeing pretty scared by a man dressed as knight! Since then it hasn't lost any of its magic. It's like the typical disney princess castle set high up on the hill over looking the city, complete with draw bridge, turrets and perfectly preserved rooms. This is of course a Faux castle. It's not even 100 years old, so don't expect too much history but ask about the original fortress of your interested. Its perfect for a day out as its only a 15 minute drive from the city centre and impossible to miss. Kids would love a day out here, and once your bored of the castle you take one of the many routes behind the castle that lead into the woodland where you can stop and have a picnic. Alternatively you can give the cafe a go and get some lovely cake. It only costs £3.60 for an adult to get in, and if you just fancy a walk its free. Personally I'm waiting for my knight in shining amour to come back and marry me in this fairy-tale castle (not that I could ever afford it!). NB. Opens later in the peak of summer, and closes earlier in the winter. It also closes completely in January for renovations.

This attraction is well worth a visit. If you pass Castle Coch on the M4 you might be fooled into…read morethinking that its fairytale tower is the tip of an iceberg which the surrounding woodlands are covering up. In fact, this castle is not as big as you may think it to be. Located on the northern outskirts of Cardiff it sits just above Tongwynlais, it is very easy to get to if travelling by car but you can also jump on a bus from Cardiff centre and take a short but picturesque walk up past the golf course and through the woods. The castle you see now was actually built on the ruins of a Norman period castle as a kind of weekend holiday home for the Marquis of Bute and his household. He wanted to make use of the site and funded this erection which enabled him to escape the bustle of Cardiff. If you have ever visited Cardiff castle then you will know what to expect from the interior design of the building as it follows similar taste. Once you cross the working draw bridge and pay a small entry fee you can get straight onto exploring the rooms which are amazingly well kept. The castle was designed so that the servants could come and go around the building without disturbing the guests as they tended to their needs. This means there are numerous nooks, crannies, and passageways to explore. As with Cardiff castle, there is an audio guide available which will offer you much information about the castle history. It wouldn't take you a whole day to take in everything but if you are not in a rush you might decide to take a break and visit the cafe which is situated in one of the rooms just opposite the entrance.

A wonderful experience of going back in time. I recommend this castle for families who would like…read morea nice day out during the summer to look back in history and to also enjoy the natural surroundings

Occupying a commanding position north of Cardiff is Castell Coch - Red Castle in Welsh. Originally…read morea small wooden castle, it was rebuilt in red sandstone around 1280, but was seriously damaged in a battle in the 14th century, and by the 1800's was a picturesque ruin. And it might have stayed a ruin, but for the fabulously wealthy Marquess of Bute. The son of an early industrial magnate and owner of Cardiff's coal-exporting docks, he was fascinated by the mediaeval period and commissioned William Burges to rebuild the castle as an occasional summer dwelling, in the mediaeval style, but with modern conveniences (like plumbing and central heating). Completed in 1891, the result is an amazing Victorian mediaeval fantasy. The castle has a proper working drawbridge and portcullis, and turrets with tall, conical roofs. Some of the original mediaeval stone-work is still visible in the lower levels. The interior is even more extraordinary. The level of detail Burges incorporated is stunning - exacting designs for furniture, fittings and an elaborate decorative scheme were developed and executed faithfully. Most of this scheme survives. My favourites are the bed, with its huge crystal-ball bed-knobs, and the wallpaper featuring tales from Aesop's fables. It has featured in many television series and, not surprisingly, is a great place to take kids!

I should be clear here, that I'm not about to write any sort of political review. Hardly. I'm the…read morekind of person who forgets to register to vote. No, instead I'm going to merely make a couple of comments upon the building at Cardiff Bay and the crazy landmark that it's become. The National Assembly building is an incredible piece of architecture. Built around the same time as the Wales Millennium Centre, there are similar vibes to the two buildings. Both use open wood cladding, and a whole lot of slate. There is also an importance placed upon roofs in both buildings. While the Millennium Centre is endearingly known as The Armadillo to locals, I'm not sure is the Assemble building has ever acquired such a description. This is probably because the roof defies description. It's massive and all encompassing and seemed to somehow float on glass walls by nothing more than the desperate willpower of the people who work there. If it was to have a nickname, I might suggest: The Umbrella, The Toadstool or even The Flying Carpet. Worth a look.

I came here and did a tour with tour guide Gareth and I'm pretty happy about the National Assembly…read morefor Wales and what it represents! I'm from America and back in the States I was pretty politically active and was passionate about what I believed in. However, when it comes to politics in the UK and especially Wales I'm pretty clueless about what the Welsh Assembly actually accomplishes (no offense). Asking my Welsh partner and he has no idea either. However, leaving the tour I feel a great respect for the National Assembly for Wales and all the people surrounding it! ~ Fun facts: - Anyone can come in and watch the political debates for free. Anyone can come by and speak to their representatives and voice your opinion. Back when everything about Wales was decided in England, it would be pretty hard to travel all the way to London to get your voice heard about local issues. The fact that the National Assembly for Wales is so accessible to the public is a great thing! - To submit a petition to the Welsh Assembly and guarantee it on the agenda as a talking point, you don't have to be of any age and you only need 10 signatures. Yes, that's right. 10. So if you're from a really small area, if an issue is important to you you can make sure you get your voice heard regardless. --- Yes, the building is without a doubt beautiful. But the National Assembly for Wales and what it represents is amazing. Even if you don't agree with what they do, the fact that you can just rock up and actually VOICE that disagreement is something that every government should strive for! Please try to go on a guided tour as well; you'll learn a lot! Gareth was amazing and entertaining as well, I highly recommend him!

I love buildings that have been designed by an architect who intended to create an impression and…read morethe Pier Head building in Cardiff bay certainly does that. When Cardiff was the busiest port in the world the dominant elegance of the Pier Head building proudly stated that anything of importance that was going on in this port started and stopped right here. There is a Welsh history museum inside which only opened in March 2010 which I cannot comment on but I'd definitely grab a photo op against its fire red terra-cotta exterior. Oh and here's a bit of trivia it was designed by Welsh architect, William Frame, who also worked on the refurbishment of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch. His mentor William Burges, was the architect of Castell Coch and the newer elements of Cardiff Castle - interesting ay? ok please yourself! ;)

If you've ever seen the Welsh news you'll see the Pierhead building sitting there in the bay…read morebackdrop- its the red brick building with the clock tower AKA Little Big Ben! Its been a few things in its time, it belonged to the Bute Dock Company and then the rail company before ending up in the hands of the government. Early this year it was reopened to the public as a kinda museum/exhibition/space to leave your own political comments. The door was open so we wandered in there and to be honest it wasn't very exciting. The main room was just like a big hall with loads of scatter cushions on the one side. I didnt go upstairs so missed the exhibition side!