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The capital and largest city in Wales lies in the southern region of Glamorgan. Celtic tribes inhabited the area from about 4,000 BC. The Silures tribe dominated the territory at the time of the Roman invasion. The Romans chose a location along the River Taff and constructed a sizable fort, which encompassed approximately 8 acres (3.2 hectares). This locattion was in what is now the centre of Cardiff and some believe the community derived its name from the fort. A civilian settlement emerged comprised mainly of retired soldier and their families along with traders. The Romans constructed a stone fortress that protected the community from invasion.
After the Romans departed, the Celts divided Wales into four kingdoms. King Meurig ap Tewdrig ruled over Glamorgan. The lands remained under Welsh rule until the Norman Invasion. William I constructed a castle within the walls of the abandoned Roman fort in 1081. The village grew around the fortress. Settlers migrated to Cardiff from England. The king also constructed a wooden palisade around the entire community. Cardiff soon became a prominent port. By the end of the 13th century, Cardiff had over 2,000 residents, which was significant for Wales, but small by England’s standards. Owain Glyndwr invaded Cardiff in 1404, burning the town and seizing the castle.
Cardiff received borough status in 1542. West of town, the second Civil War erupted, pitting the Parliamentarians against the Royalists. At the end of the battle, Oliver Cromwell conquered Wales. In 1778, the Baron Cardiff commissioned repairs on the castle. By the 1790s, Cardiff had a bank, coffee house, printing press and a racecourse thanks to the Baron. The town also established a stagecoach service to London. The Baron’s son, John Crichton-Stuart, was responsible for building the Cardiff docks. Despite the industrial and social unrest that accompanied mining, Cardiff began growing extensively after the 1830s. The town became the centre for the Coal Exchange and had a steelworks by the end of 1891.
Activities and Attractions
The immense Cardiff Castle estate welcomes visitors daily. Tour the castle ruins and the reconstructed areas of the fortress. The archtecture dates from Roman times through the Victorian period. See the Norman’s keep and learn history from the medieval guards. See the wartime shelters and journey to the battlement walk. Explore lavishly decorated apartments and rooms. Enter the Cardiff Castle Museum and learn about the life of a typical Welsh soldier. Enjoy refreshments in the café or reserve a place at one of the estates medieval banquets. Cardiff contains five castles in all that are in various stages of repair.
Learn about Welsh history in an entertaining and interesting way by visiting the St. Fagans National History Museum. Explore 40 different authentic buildings moved to the living history museum’s location that depict life of Welsh villages from the Iron Age through the Industrial Revolution. See how ancient civilizations survived in round, thatched huts and explore the artwork in a medieval church. Find out why the walls of a farmhouse were painted blood red and the meanings behind mysterious carvings. See the smithy apply his trade and observe a saddle being constructed by hand. Follow the trail of the grain as it comes from the fields, gets ground into flour at the mill and baked into delicious treats at the bakery.
Cardiff Bay hosts a number of attractions to delight a variety of interests. Embark on an excursion along the quay. Journey five miles from the bay and visit the historic Flat Holm Island. The location served as a retreat for monks, Vikings, miners and smugglers. A special boardwalk along the bay follows a trail into the wetlands. Tour the cabins, engine room and light tower of the Lightship 2000. Stop at the galley and have breakfast or lunch, served seven days a week. The ship serves as a focal point for all of the Welsh churches. The facilty holds worship services and counselling sessions. Venture to the Techniquest for a different approach to learning science. Hands on and interactive exhibits accompany demonstrations. The facility also features a planetarium and a science theatre.
Places to Stay and Dining
The heart of Cardiff has numerous hotels ranging in price from family friendly to luxurious. Enjoy the convenience of being within walking distance from many popular Cardiff activities. Take the water taxi from the city centre down to the bay.
For a taste of authentic South American cuisine, visitors travel to Las Igunanas. Try a Chilean version of shepherd’s pie made with spicy sweet potatoes, chickpeas and sweet corn. Have a big baked burrito, bulging with spicy chicken, cheese, onions and peppers topped with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.
Accommodation in Cardiff
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