Wales has some of the finest examples of medieval castles in Europe. It's been said that Wales is the castles capital of the world. Although the Principality is littered with some 400 defensive monuments from iron age mounds and ditches, Roman forts and right through to 19th Century follies; it is the flourishing of stone castles after the invasion of the Normans in 1066 for which, perhaps, we are best known.
Caerphilly castle, built in 1271, is one of the largest in Europe and Raglan castle, built mainly in the 1460s is, I think, one of the most romantic. Perhaps the finest examples are those built by Edward I during the Welsh Wars of the late 13th and early 14th Century; Aberystwyth, Builth, Flint, Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech and Rhuddlan. Other notable Welsh castles are: Kidwelly, Llansteffan, Chepstow and Monmouth. Have a look here for a list of Welsh castles.
Beautiful though they undoubtedly are; before we get too proud of these Welsh castles, let's remind ourselves that they are, for the most part, English castles, designed and constructed to oppress the Welsh.
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