Conwy

Conwy castle is one of the most picturesque of Welsh castles and a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. The castle and town walls, now in the UNESCO World Heritage List as site of outstanding universal value, were built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289 and helped to complete the conquest of the Welsh princes in North Wales.

Throughout the 13th century, the tides of war between the Welsh and English swept first one way and then the other: Gwynedd (native name of North Wales region) reached new heights of power and influence in the 1260's under the leadership of Llywelyn ap Gruffud but in the war of 1282/83 Edward I undertook to end the independence of the country. Methodically he conquered Gwynedd and the English castles still proudly standing here are a testimony to the fear and respect in which the Princes and their people were held by their conquerors.

In Conwy, the castle's commanding position on a rocky outcrop overlooking the estuary dictated its very size and shape and gave it great military might. Tools and labors were commandeered from Chester to assist in its construction and the design and direction of the building were undertaken by James of St.George, the greatest military architect of the day. Taken toghether the castle and the town walls of Conwy, planned as a single unit,  are the most impressive of all the fortresses raised by King Edward I to subdue Wales. Over 1,2 km. long, the town walls defended the largest of Edward's Welsh frontier towns with their 21 towers and 3 gateways ingeniously served as a circuit breaker, allowing attackers who scaled the intervening walls to be cut off and slain. The town walls also acted as the outermost defenses of the royal castle, an imposing compact eight-towered stronghold surrounded by water on three sides. Nearest the town, the castle's own outer ward housed the garrison  then, doubly defended by town wall and outer ward, came the king's private apartments in the castle's inner ward, its tower still crowned by turrets for the royal standards.

In the 15th century the castle was taken for a short period by the Welsh when two of Owain Glyndwr's lieutenants captured the town, but it was later recaptured by Lord Herbert during the War of the Roses. During the Civil War, the castle was garrisoned for the King in 1646 but after a siege of three months it was taken by the Parliamentary army. In 1685, Charles II granted it to the earl of Conwy who subsequently ordered all the iron, timber and lead to be taken down for sale.

Today the castle is in the care of CADW. We can walk along the town walls and admire the breathtaking views of the castle  in its idyllic setting between the blue waters of the river Conwy's estuary and the mountains of Snowdonia, that has attracted the attention of visitors, artists and writers for centuries: Conwy's triumph of medieval fortress-building is not to be missed by any visitor to Wales!