Often described as â??the land of castlesâ?? and the worldâ??s â??castle capitalâ??, Wales has an abundance of these magnificent monuments dotted all around the country. Today, a considerable number have sadly crumbled and all but disappeared, but there are many still standing â?? a mix of evocative ruins and some impressively intact.
These great fortresses have provided an exciting backdrop to the history of Wales, with tales of King Arthur at Caerleon Castle, Royalists seizing Chepstow, Carreg Cennen being captured by the great folk hero Owain Glyn Dwr and the first Welsh king of England being born at Pembroke Castle. The most famous of Walesâ?? castles were built under King Edward I, who used them to crush and subdue the population and embarked upon some ambitious concentric designs.
In this fascinating and beautifully illustrated book, Marc Alexander explores the story of Welsh castles, featuring colourful examples throughout the countryâ??s history.
