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Caernarvon Castle, Wales

 

Caernarvon Castle, built between 1283 and 1330, was one of a number of castles built by Edward I during his campaigns to subdue Wales at the end of the thirteenth century. Caernarvon, was intended less as an impregnable castle and more as an impressive and symbolic seat of power. It has striking hexagonal towers and huge walls built with different coloured bands of stone. Castles have always had a symbolic role to play, ever since the same pattern of banks and ditches were used to build hill top castles and religious sites. In many ways Caernarvon's appearance is more important that its actual defensive capabilities. In his youth Edward had been on the Ninth Crusade, and what he saw on his travels went into his own castles. Castles such as Harlech, represented the peak of functional defensive technology at the time, with features copied from the great crusader castles. Caernarvon represents a different borrowing, a borrowing of symbols. The walls of this castle are designed to echo the walls of Constantinople, to suggest imperial power.

 

 

Edward also wanted to use Caernarvon Castle to create a link between British history and the history of the glamorous East. Edward was powerfully influenced by the legend of Magnus Maximus, supposedly the father of the Roman emperor Constantine. The legend said that Maximus had a dream of a beautiful maiden who lived in a giant castle with multicoloured towers, at the mouth of a river. He was supposed to have found the maiden he dreamt of in Caernarvon during an expedition to Britannia. She turned out to be the daughter of an old English king looking for an heir. Following marriage to the beautiful girl, Magnus, so the story goes, became King of England. Edward's castle at Caernarvon made the legend into reality. Believing that Caernarvon was the place where Magnus Maximus died, in 1283 Edward reburied bones that were supposedly those of Maximus, at Caernarvon Castle. The castle itself also had references to the Maximus legend in its details. Dark coloured bands of masonry were placed in walls, while towers were built in a polygonal shape. This all recalled the walls of Constantinople, which was Constantine's city. Edward was creating history, anchoring himself in tales which gave solidity to the past. We do the same today. Michael Hicks, the biographer of Richard III has written "In history what happened is often much less important than what is thought to have happened" (Richard The Third P199). Caernarvon Castle is a huge memorial to history, as it was thought to have happened. Looking up at its multicoloured walls is a reminder of how important stories are in history.

 

Edward I, a ruthless, warlike king, understood the power of symbols. He took Scotland's Stone of Destiny, and put it under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey, so that every English monarch sat on Scotland as they were crowned. There was nothing airy fairy about symbolism. It was about real power. This is the power that Edward sought to express in Caernarvon Castle. Caernarvon Castle was the birth place of Edward II, the first Prince of Wales. The title of Prince of Wales is in itself more symbolism designed to show the Welsh who was boss. Ever since the birth of Edward II, the heir to the throne has been granted the title of Prince of Wales, the investiture of the present Prince of Wales taking place at Caernarvon in 1969.

There are exhibitions and displays in the towers. The castle sits in a beautiful position overlooking the river Seiont and the Menai Straits

 

Opening Times : 1st April to 30th June, September, October and March 9.30am to 5pm daily, July and August 9.30am - 6pm daily, November to February 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm Sunday.

The castle is closed 24-26th December and 1st January. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

Directions: Caernarvon is off the A487 in north Wales. The castle is off the B4366. There is a car park next to the castle. Click here for an interactive map centred on Caernarvon.

Address: Caernarvon Castle, Castle Ditch, Caernarvon, Wales LL55 2AY

Access: There is a slope from car park to castle, but then a flight of steps up to the entrance. Steps and varied levels inside the castle would be difficult for people with mobility or sight problems. Some of the exhibitions and displays are reached by spiral staircases. A National Key adapted toilet is situated near the car park.

 

 

 

 

Contact:

telephone: 01286 677617

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