Conwy is located in Wales, a country situated in the western part of the United Kingdom. During medieval times, the Welsh and the Anglo-Normans fought viciously over who had the right to this glorious land. Welsh and English castles alike abound in the countryside of Wales.
Coming into the town of Conwy, travelers are treated to an outstanding view of one of the English castles - Conwy castle. Imagination can allow tourists to view the castle as it would have been in the middle ages - white lime washed walls towering high above the town itself, with the blue river and green hills providing stark contrasts.
History of Conwy Castle and The Walled Town
Conwy Castle was built immediately following the capture of Dolwyddelan and the defeat of the Welsh. Part of Edward I's ring of magnificent fortifications that were designed to strike terror into the heart of the Welsh, Conwy was meant to be both a residence and a fortress. Construction of the castle began in 1283, under the direction of James of St. George, and most of the work was finished within four years. The castle was completed during the same time as the town walls.
Although plans seem to have been in the works for Conwy to become a shire town, this distinction went to Caernarfon. According to the Conwy Castle visitor guide, Conwy, despite the fact that it did not receive this honor, did become the largest of the north Wales boroughs.
The building was not always easy, however. Aberconwy Abbey, a Cistercian abbey, was a casualty of the town and castle building. Unfortunately for the Cistercian's, the abbey was uprooted and moved to Maenan. The abbey church was kept and became the parish church for the town.
The Castle as a Fortress
Eight massive towers anchor the castle to the rocky outcropping along the Conwy River. While almost identical, four of these towers are turreted. According to the visitor guide, the turrets were designed so that the King's standards could fly from the top while the court was at Conwy. The towers might also have provided look-out points for watchmen who would be guarding the royal residence.
The impressive inner ward is where the royal apartments would have been. According to Conwy Castle guides these apartments were only utilized twice by kings. Once by Edward I, and the other time by Richard II. Still, it is easy for history buffs to discern from the ruins the once beautiful royal apartments and to get an appreciation for the scale of work it took to make them this way.
The Town Walls are Finest Example in Britain
From the CADW Conwy visitor guide, tourists find that Conwy's walls are one of the most complete example of town walls left in Britain. It is still possible to walk much of the town walls. The walls are approximately 1400 yards long and have twenty-one towers. They provide excellent vantage points from which to view the town.
Opening times and Admission Prices
- April 1st - October 31st; Monday - Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
- Nov 1st - March 31st, Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Admission is £4.70 for adults. Concession fees and family tickets are available, as well as combination tickets for other Conwy sites. It is advisable to check the CADW site before visiting.
Kristie Davis - Kristie Davis Dean is a former public relations assistant for a regional medical center who now teaches writing. In addition to holding a ...
