Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle is a medieval fortification in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, north-west Wales. From the late 11th century until 1283, when King Edward I of England began to replace it with the current stone structure, it was a motte-and-bailey fortress. Because the Edwardian town and castle served as the administrative capital of north Wales, the defenses were built on a great scale.

Caernarfon Castle arose from a violent struggle with Welsh princes. Of course, its massive curtain walls and intimidating King's Gate were built to withstand the assault. Several polygonal turrets are dotted along the curtain wall, from which flanking fire might be launched. There were battlements on the roofs of the walls and towers, and shooting galleries ran along the southern face; galleries ran along the northern face were planned but never built. According to military historian Allen Brown, these factors conspired to create Caernarfon Castle one of the most fearsome concentrations of artillery in the Middle Ages.

The majority of the northern towers were four floors tall, including a basement. The Eagle Tower at the castle's western corner was the most impressive. It contains three turrets that were previously topped by eagle statues. The tower had luxurious chambers and was most likely built for Sir Otton de Grandson, Wales' first justiciar. A water gate on the basement level let visitors traveling up the River Seiont enter the castle.

Location: Caernarfon, Gwynedd, north-west Wales