Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Hotels

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Cardiff Castle Description

The Castle in the center of Cardiff stands on a site once occupied by a Roman fort; part of the Roman walls, the polygon bastions (fourth century) and the north gate have been preserved and partially restored. Cardiff Castle is really three castles in one, because in 1090 a new fortress was built on an artificial motte by Robert Fitzhamon. His successor, finding it too small, added a new range of richly decorated buildings. After the upheavals of the Civil War the Castle fell into disrepair. Between 1865 and 1920 the whole complex was rebuilt at vast expense but maintaining its original appearance. As well as State Apartments there is a library and a military museum.

Hobbies & Activities category: Town walls, fortifications, gates; Castle, chateau, palace; Library; Architecture - Medieval; Military attraction or museum

Cardiff Castle Highlights

Banqueting Hall

Murals telling the tales of Robert the Consul greet visitors to this most important room of the castle. A spectacular fireplace is the centerpiece of the hall.

Chapel

The second Marquess of Bute used this as his dressing room until he died in the room in 1848. Of note are the Tree of Life carved on one side of the door and a fallen tree, symbolizing the frailty of life, on the other side.

Clock Tower

The door leading to this tower is watched over by a carved figure of the Devil. Visitors enter the Winter Smoking Room with its magnificently designed fire place, cut from a single block of Forest

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Entrance Hall

Stained glass windows portray Cardiff as it was in the past. A mural, over 100 yards in length, portrays Cardiffs Roman ancestry.

Herbert Tower

The main room of this tower is the Arab Room, done in a mock Moorish pattern with a gilded ceiling and cedarwood cupboards. Of prime value though is the chimney-piece of white marble and insets of lapis lazuli.

Library

Stained glass windows portray biblical themes here and fine craftmanship has been put into the paneled doors and bookcases.

Octagonal Tower

Using mainly a Scottish theme, the tower features the lion of the arms of Scotland at the floor of the staircase. Shields hang over the doors and scenes from Aesop's Fables are found in painted

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Address

Cardiff Castle
Castle Street
Cardiff CF10 2RB
United Kingdom

Hours

March 1 to October 31

Open	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30
Closed	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00



Open	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30
Closed	16:30	16:30	16:30	16:30	16:30	16:30	16:30

Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1) Bank Holiday - Scotland (January 2) Summer Bank Holiday - Scotland (1st Monday, August) Christmas - Christian (December 25) Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)