Cardiff Castle
Cardiff, Glamorgan
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Location Guide |
A Medieval castle and Victorian revival mansion
exists today on a site which once had a Norman Keep erected over a Roman Fort
and situated in the centre of Cardiff City. From the roadside you get to see the
large curtain walls which surround the site with its decorative figures
strategically placed at the battle cutouts.
| The original Norman Keep
was built on a high motte, and the shell of this perched on its mound
still exists today. Of the rest of the site that you see on a visit
today is primarily the transformation which began in 1868 by the 3rd
Marquess of Bute when he commission William Burgess to undertake a
massive rebuilding project.
Together they came up with a Victorian
Gothic Revival medieval palace with a series of highly decorated rooms.
Rebuilding began with the Clock Tower and it's colourful artwork,
followed by the Tank Tower, Guest Tower, Herbert Tower and Beauchamp
Tower. Within the castle they created a succession of apartments
including: the Winter and Summer Smoking Rooms, the Chaucer Room, the
Arab Room, Lord Bute's Bedroom, the Roof Garden - all highly decorated
and colourful. Astrological symbols, nature's creatures, the seasons,
biblical characters dressed in gilt robes, moorish designs, and heraldic
features are some of the themes that run throughout the castle as well
as marble fireplaces. Flowing fountains, and rich greenery also add to
the effect of their creators.
It remained in the Bute Family until
1947 when it was sold to Cardiff City for just £1.
Click on the
smaller images to see larger versions
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The Clock Tower
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What To Do
| Visit the Ruined walls of
the old Norman Castle Keep. It is an example of the classic motte
and bailey fortification. Once you pass through the gatehouse, the
vision before you is of the motte as it surges upwards from the lush
green bailey mound. And, on top stands the remarkably intact shell keep.
With the bulky motte and its surrounding water-filled ditch, the keep
gives the you a perfect image of the true Norman castle, which was here
before. A
guided tour of the Castle Apartments - takes about 50
minutes. Where you get to see The medieval gothic fantasy of the 3rd
Marquis of Bute. Many of the rooms have marble fireplaces and fantastic
ceilings all designed to a theme, such as the Arab room with a highly
vaulted ceiling using gold, sandalwood and images of parrots, or the
bedroom which uses religion as it's theme and the nursery is covered
with fairytales and nursery rhymes. In the Clock Tower the Winter
Smoking Room's theme is the seasons and days of the week. |
The Norman Keep Ruins |
The Castle Apartments
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The Welch Regiment
Museum is located in the Black and Barbican Towers and looks at
their history from 1719-1964. It also commemorates the history of the
Glamorgan militia and the auxiliary land forces. Admission is included
within the castle entry fee, however it is closed on Tuesdays.
Notes and Accessibility: The
castle grounds are flat and much of it is lawn, just over the drawbridge
at the castle entrance there is a cobblestone path. From the terrace
there is level access around the Battlement Walks and a ramp down onto
the Castle Green. The Castle apartments are not accessible to wheelchair
users, or pushchairs. To get up to the Norman Keep there are 50 steep
stone steps and steep staircases to reach the viewing platform at the
top.
There is an audio guide available for the
grounds, Norman Keep and Battlement Walk.
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Click on the
smaller images to see larger versions
Grounds of Bute Park. Is a mature
parkland flanked by the River Taff, Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and the
Castle. It has a nationally recognised arboretum containing 50 of the 4,000
recorded UK 'Champion
Trees' (the biggest of their type), and as well as parkland to stroll and take in it also is the venue of
many events throughout the year including the RHS Show Cardiff.
To see more work of William Burges it is worth
visiting nearby
Castell Coch, 
 near J32 of the M4, which was rebuilt as a
summer retreat for Lord Bute and features more of their gothic fantasy
creations.
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Location: Cardiff Castle, Glamorgan |
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Grid Reference:
ST180767 |
Ceremonial County:
Glamorgan |
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Map Link:
Multimap
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Aerial photo:
Multimap Aerial
Google Aerial
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Getting there: From M4 J32 take A470 into
centre of Cardiff. There are pay and display car parks on your right as you
approach the castle, but there are many more in the city centre. |
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Access: Through the gate house off Castle
Street at one end of St Mary's Street. |
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Website:
www.cardiffcastle.com
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Other Useful Websites:
Castles of Wales
Wiki
Castle Xplorer
Castle UK
ecastles
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Email: cardiffcastle@cardiff.gov.uk |
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Address: Cardiff Castle, Castle Street,
Cardiff |
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Postcode: CF10 3RB |
Telephone: 029 2087 8100 |
Opening Times: Grounds and Apartments. Every
day except 25th, 26th Dec and Jan 1st.
Mar-Oct 9am-6pm; Nov-Feb 9.30am-6pm |
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Charges: Adults £8.95; Child £6.35; Seniors
£7.50; Students £7.50.
Cardiff Castle Residents Pass - for those who live or work in Cardiff they
can apply for a 5 year pass which gives them FREE entry to the grounds,
keep, interpretation centre, shop and cafe. |
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Nearby Locations:
Castell Coch,
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Other Location Pages: |
Other Relevant Pages:
Castles of Wales
How to photograph a
castle
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Notes: Admission ticket includes an
introductory film, a guided tour of the Castle apartments, a personal
multi-media guide of the entire site, views from the Castle Keep and
battlements and entry to the Welch Regiment Museum.
Allow at least 3-4 hours for your visit to
take in all the sites including the 50 minute tour of the apartments |
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