Conwy Castle
WalesCoastalHistory & HeritageMajor Landmarks
Key info
CategoryCoastal
Wales
About this attraction
About Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle is one of the finest surviving medieval fortresses in Europe, built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as part of his ring of castles designed to subdue the Welsh princes. Standing on a rocky outcrop above the Conwy estuary, the castle and its connected town walls form a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Edward's other great fortresses at Caernarfon, Beaumaris and Harlech.
The fortress is built on a long, narrow plan with eight massive drum towers, divided into an outer and inner ward by a cross wall. Visitors can climb the spiral staircases to the battlements for sweeping views over the estuary, the town's encircling walls, and Telford's elegant suspension bridge of 1826. The Great Hall, royal chambers and chapel still retain a strong sense of their medieval origins.
Below the castle, the walled town of Conwy is one of the best preserved in Britain, with around three quarters of a mile of intact walls punctuated by 21 towers. The quayside is home to the diminutive Smallest House in Great Britain, while Plas Mawr offers a vivid glimpse of Elizabethan domestic life nearby.
Location
Find Conwy Castle on the map
Getting here
Scenic routes that pass nearby
Hop on any of these for a scenic ride to Conwy Castle.
- BUSDuration1 hour and 15 minutesFrequencyEvery 15 minutes (reduced operating hours on Sundays)
- BUSDuration1 hour and 30 minutesFrequencyEvery 30 minutes (reduced operating hours on Sundays)
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