Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle is an enormous castle, in fact the largest in Wales covering about 30 acres. Construction of the castle began in 1268 It is of concentric design with lines of defence set one inside the other making it very difficult for attackers, for if they stormed the first defences they were faced with another.
It is surrounded by a very wide outer moat and then again by an inner moat and gatehouses, a castle within a castle within a castle... and as you can see from the photo above, it was almost impossible to attack the castle by conventional methods.
The castle was attacked in 1318 and also during the civil war when I believe that canon fire from the surrounding hillsides caused the "leaning tower" for which the castle is famous.
The castle is set in parkland in the middle of the town of Caerphilly which has a good selection of shops car parks and facilities. To get to Caerphilly leave the M4 motorway at Junction 32, then follow sign for Merthyr Tydfil/ A470 for about 2 miles and look for the brown tourist signs for Caerphilly.
The castles famous leaning tower can be seen on the left of the photo..
Pay-and-display parking nearby, toilets, guidebook available, gift shop, two site exhibitions, audio-visual display and replica medieval siege weapons. Baby changing facilities.
We welcome assistance dogs at our sites.
Adult - £3.60, Concession - £3.20, Family - £10.40
Entry is free for Welsh residents aged 60 and over or 16 and under who have a valid pass.
A joint ticket for Caerphilly Castle, Castell Coch and Cardiff Castle is available: Adult £14.00, Concession £12.00.
Opening times
01.11.09 - 31.03.10: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 16.00, Sunday 11.00 - 16.00
01.04.10 - 30.06.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00
01.07.10 - 31.08.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 18.00
01.09.10 - 31.10.10: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00
01.11.10 - 28.02.11: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 16.00, Sunday 11.00 - 16.00
01.03.11 - 31.03.11: Monday - Sunday 9.30 - 17.00
Further Information:
Most sites are closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Full details are available from Cadw Site Operations Unit, tel. 01443 336000. Last admission to this site is thirty minutes before closing.
