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CONWY CASTLE
The Great Turret Walls Edward I Castle of Wales
Conwy
Castle is undoubtedly one of the most visually impressive of the Edward
I castles of North Wales, if a pile of stone can be beautiful.
Its round towers evenly spaced along the massive curtain wall rising
high above the roadway through the town express the power a medieval
fortress once represented. Elements of Conwy Castle’s beauty arise
from both its design and its situation. When originally constructed between
1283 and 1289, Conwy Castle rested on a rock promontory footing above
the Conwy River far below steep slopes, forming a natural moat with a
vantage over the important estuary harbor. Centuries
after the castle had lost its military importance and the town of Conwy
(pronounced Conway) grew, the castle
foundation seemed the ideal place for a bridge across the river to replace
the ferry. Architect Thomas Telford built one of the world’s first
suspension bridges to carry road traffic across the wide river toward
Llandudno and the coast. Completed in 1826, the elegant steel bridge,
designed by Telford from the comfort of the Dawson Bar in the nearby
hotel surrounded by Shakespearean images (see Conwy
Castle Hotel Dawson Bar), with stone supporting towers to
complement the castle turrets seemed to be of one holistic design as
if the bridge had been intended Edward
I’s master castle builder James of St George. Later a railroad
bridge and newer road bridge were built on either side of the castle,
with the Telford Suspension bridge now only a pedestrian heritage crossing.
The
design of Conwy Castle is notable for its 8 magnificent round towers
and high walls. The castle was originally reached up a steep ramp and
drawbridge through a portculis gate. The gateway arch still remain, but
the castle is now entered via a walkway from the visitor center accessed
from a parking lot across the roadway. The castle is divided with an
inner ward and outer ward with each within four of the towers. The outer
ward housed the military garrison quarters and prison tower. The inner
ward housed the 13th Century Royal apartments and great hall built for
Edward I and his Queen Eleanor, the roofless walls of which still remain.
The castle withstood a six month siege in the Welsh rebellion of Madog
ap Llywelyn in 1295. 
The
castle was added to by Edward the Black Prince, son of King Edward III
(see Mortimer’s
Hole) in the 14th Century.
Conwy Castle played a role in the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil
War, but was essentially dismantled in 1665 under Charles II by the Viscount
of Conway. What survives are the powerful walls. The stairways to the
top of the battlements and
turret towers allow an incredible view of the stoneworks below and the
Conwy River all the way to the sea to the north and Snowdonia mountains
to the south. It is possible to walk around large sections of the castle
on the walls.
The town of Conwy itself is one of the best examples of classic medieval
walled cities in Britain with almost a mile of walls intact surrounding
the old town center with 22 towers. After a visit to the castle, take
a walk around the town walls for some of the best views. The
castle is open from daily except Christmas, 9-5 April to October 9:30-4
November to March. Entrance to the castle
is £4.60 for adults with a family ticket for £13.30. The
Telford Bridge has a separate entrance toll of £1.
Conwy
Castle is included in the Great
British Heritage Pass and
Cadw Welsh Tourism offers a 3-day or 7-day Explorer Pass for the
other sites and
castles they manage in Wales. Conwy Castle is the easiest of the
UNESCO World Hertage Edward I "Iron Ring" Castles to get
to, just a minute off the A55 motor route along the North Wales Coast,
the closet
to the England border, 45 miles from Chester and under an hour from
Liverpool by car. By train the Conwy Rail Station is next to the
castle about a
block away. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Conwy Tourism
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SEE ALSO:
PORTMEIRION
"Prisoner" VILLAGE AND GARDEN
PENTRE-MAWR
FARMHOUSE B&B
HARLECH CASTLE SNOWDONIA COAST
RUTHIN CASTLE HOTEL - HAUNTED LUXURY
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