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Cardiff Castle, Wales

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Cardiff Castle was founded by the Normans in 1081 on the site of an earlier Roman fort. A small settlement grew up around it, a settlement that was to become Cardiff. Over the centuries the castle was owned by many powerful families, until in 1766 it passed to the Bute family. Cardiff Castle was one of three in the area of Cardiff restored by the massively wealthy industrialist, John Patrick Crichton-Stewart, third Marquis of Bute. The Industrial Revolution influenced Wales deeply. The census of 1851 revealed that Wales was the first place in the world to have more of its population employed in industry than working on the land. While industrialisation overall made people more wealthy, there was a romantic reaction against nineteenth century urban living and rationality. Villages and childhood were idealised, gardens were created as idealised patches of nature; and the third Marquis of Bute, whose family had made money in the new industries, devoted a fortune to restoring romantic castles, symbols of a distant and mysterious past. Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch, and Caerphilly Castle all soaked up vast sums in their restoration and rebuilding. The third Marquis was a deeply religious man, as can be seen in the decoration of Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch. He converted to Catholicism at the age of twenty one, and was obsessively devoted to his religion from then on. His castles were in the last analysis religious symbols. Castles have always been associated with religious buildings, in their architectural details and often in their sharing of the same sites. Bute's incredible castles recalled a seemingly more romantic and mysterious time before the age of rationality. You could say that the third Marquis of Bute spent his fortune in reaction against the industrial world where his family had made its fortune.

Much of Cardiff Castle now has a fairytale appearance, suggesting ancient, mythic times. In fact its Gothic Revival style remodelling took place between 1868 and 1930, under the guidance of the 3rd and then the 4th Marquis of Bute. Like Leeds Castle in Kent, a battle around this lovely building would only serve to ruin the stonework. Castles are often beautiful,and I have to say, peaceful places. Cardiff Castle started out as a no nonsense Roman, and then Norman, fort, and this functionality still comes over in the central tower standing on its Norman mound. But the rest of the castle now has a dreamy quality and its survival demonstrates the continuing power of castles as symbols rather than fortifications.

There are guided tours, and specialist tours for groups interested in history, or fine and decorative art. Visitors can also enjoy the castle grounds where peacocks and geese wander freely. There is a tea room and a gift shop.

Opening Times: Open daily from March to October, 9am to 6pm. November to February 9am to 5pm.

Last entry one hour before closing. Closed 25th, 26th December and 1st January.

Address: Cardiff Castle, Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3RB

Directions: From the M4 follow signs to Cardiff city centre, and park in one of the city centre car parks. The castle is then a short walk away in the middle of Cardiff, off the Kingsway and Duke's Street. Click here for an interactive map centred on Cardiff Castle.

Access: Castle apartments are not accessible to wheelchair users, although the Castle Green, tearoom, education centre and Welsh Banquet area are accessible. Touch tours can be pre-booked for visitors with visual impairment.

Contact:

telephone: 029 2087 8100

fax: 029 2023 1417

e-mail: cardiffcastle@cardiff.gov.uk