Caernarfon Castle

The first position on the list of the most beautiful historical sites in Gwynedd is Caernarfon Castle. Following Edward I's conquest of Wales in 1283, Caernarfon Castle's construction started, and it was finally finished in 1330. The king surrounded the insurgent nation with an "iron ring" of fortresses, which included Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, and Beaumaris, to solidify his control over it. Caernarfon Castle was a grand and imposing combination of a castle, royal residence, and a political center, with characteristics that echoed those of imperial Rome and the Arthurian legend.

The king held Caernarfon Castle in high regard, and in 1284 he traveled there with the very pregnant Queen Eleanor, probably in an effort to ensure that his son would be born there. When the prince initially arrived, he was known as Edward of Caernarfon; he eventually changed his name to Edward II. In 1301, he has crowned the first English Prince of Wales.

Visitors can explore Caernarfon's extensive walls and numerous towers today since it is controlled by Cadw and is remarkably well-preserved. Visitors may observe the King's Gate's ominous double towers and the looming statue of Edward I as they enter, and once inside, the inside of the castle transports them to medieval Wales. Fantastic vistas of the town and the River Seiont are also accessible by ascending its winding stone stairway to its battlements.

While the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum is located inside the Queen's Tower and provides a 300-year history of the significant Welsh regiment, the 10-sided Eagle Tower, where Edward I and Queen Eleanor's chambers previously stood, now holds an interactive history of the castle.

Location: Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY, Gwynedd