Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle is one of the most impressive castles in all the territory of Wales. Unlike most medieval castles, Caernarfon is not characterized by strong defensive and offensive structures. Rather it is intended as a symbol of English dominance over Wales territories and the people. Caernarfon has the same name of where it was built in the Welsh town at the southern end of the Menai Strait, the River Seiont in the northwest of Wales, and stands 8 miles southwest of Bangor.

Caernarfon Castle was built during the invasion of Edward I in areas of Wales in 1283 which seemed an excellent location and strategic for the construction of a fortress, so the King ordered the erection of the Castle. From here he could easily control and fertile the lands of Anglesey, and the north coast and west coast of Wales by the Menai Strait.

Caernarfon Castle is part of the so called "Iron Ring" of castles built by Edward I, but only that of the Menai Strait was built on the shore. The main objective was to be able to be directly reached here by water. The King built a completely new city around the palace by completely destroying all Welsh buildings. In the Middle Ages the castle was protected by water and were secured by the city walls. In the 19th century, the area around the river was filled with water to expand the port of Caernarfon Castle.

Heir of Edward I, Prince Edward, later King Edward II of England, was born in the castle. According to one legend, the king promised the people of Wales that if his son was born, he would call him "the prince, who was born in Wales” and that he not know a word of English..

Today the Caernarfon Castle is one of the most attractive palace complexes on the territory of Wales, attracting thousands of tourists annually. You can see The Eagle Tower, Queen's Tower, Chamberlain Tower and the Black Tower. Each are built on several floors and has its own chapel, which in past centuries was a demonstration of supremacy. Today the palace is an interesting historical museum.