Caernarfon Castle

What is it?

Caernarfon Castle is a Grade I listed medieval fortress

What’s there?

Caernarfon Castle is open to the public for an admission fee. It has a museum, gift shop, café

Facts -

▪ Caernarfon Castle was built in 1283 by Edward I

▪ The location of the Castle had also been the location of a Roman fort, Segontium (abandoned 394 CE), a Norman motte and bailey castle (c. 1093 CE), and the seat of the Welsh royal court from 1115 CE until Edward's takeover

▪ After 47 years, construction was completed in 1330 and cost £25,000 - equivalent to nearly £19 million today

▪ The chief architect and engineer who planned and oversaw the construction of the castle was Master James of St Georges, who was also involved in Edward's other new castles in Wales such as Harlech Castle, Conwy Castle, and Beaumaris Castle

▪ Records show that materials for the castle cost £150 but the transportation of them cost £535. Most of this costly material was stone used for the massive walls - 6 metres (20 ft.) thick in places

▪ Caernarfon castle received UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986

In Culture

North Wales artist JB Evans painted the Castle from the sea in one of his famous works.