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What is there to do at Cardiff Castle?
Visitors to Cardiff Castle can explore the Castle Apartments, climb the Norman Keep, discover remains of the Roman fort, experience the Wartime Shelters, visit Firing Line military museum, and stroll the Battlement Walks, all included with admission on the standard Castle Ticket.
Explore the Victorian Apartments
The core of the house at Cardiff Castle dates from the 1400s, with substantial extensions and alterations having been made over the centuries. However, the spectacular interiors seen today are all the result of a collaboration between the wealthy 3rd Marquess of Bute, a Victorian aristocrat, and the genius art-architect, William Burges.
Climb the Norman Keep
It’s possible that the first motte and bailey castle here was founded by William the Conqueror himself, while returning from a pilgrimage to St David’s. The original timber palisade and structures were replaced by the impressive shell keep, built in stone by Robert of Gloucester during the early 1100s.
Discover the Roman Remains
Cardiff Castle owes much of its present layout to a Roman fort that occupied the site in the first century AD. The Marquess of Bute rediscovered the fort’s remains in the late 1800s and began an extensive programme of reconstruction. Today, the still impressive remains of the original Roman stonework can still be seen around the exterior of the Castle and inside the Visitor Centre.
Experience the Wartime Shelters
Few people realise that within the walls of the Castle are tunnels which came into their own as air-raid shelters during the Second World War. Research has revealed there were dormitories with bunks, kitchens, toilets and first aid posts concealed within the walls. Now, you can see what the shelters may have looked like and hear the sounds from a bygone age.
Guided Castle Tours
There are regular guided House Tours of the Castle's Victorian apartments available on a daily basis. Tours are an upgrade to the standard Castle Ticket, or seasonal pass, and can be booked on the day of your visit from the Castle's Ticket Office. Other guided tours may be available on a seasonal basis or by special arrangement.
Visit Firing Line Museum
Firing Line is a unique and ground-breaking concept, developed through a joint vision of 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh. A world-class exhibition commemorating over 300 years of distinguished history including the Battle of Waterloo and Rorke’s Drift, as well as more recent service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Stroll the Battlement Walks
Centuries ago, Roman legionaries and medieval men-at-arms would have patrolled the Castle walls, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding landscape in a hostile frontier territory. Today, you can enjoy a far more leisurely stroll along almost three sides of the Castle’s outer defences from the south wall, around the east and north, ending at the Watch Tower on the western wall.
See our Replica Trebuchet
The Trebuchet was one of the deadliest military machines of its time, using a sophisticated counter balance system to large stone projectiles with such a force that they could breach the strongest of fortifications. The example seen at Cardiff Castle was originally built by local set makers for the Hollywood movie, Ironclad.
Don’t Miss the Chariot Corner
Hidden beneath the Castle’s south-east tower, situated opposite one of the remaining sections of Cardiff’s third century AD Roman fort, is an incredible mural made out of cement and plaster, finished in metallic gold paint. Commissioned by Cardiff City Council in the 1980s, the mural depicts scenes from the Roman invasion of the area and conflict with the local Silures tribe.
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Visiting Cardiff Castle
Visitors come to Cardiff Castle for many reasons: history, architecture, city views, family-friendly exploration or simply a peaceful green space in the heart of the city. Whether you’re visiting Cardiff for the first time or rediscovering the city, Cardiff Castle offers a unique chance to step out of the present and into the past - without ever leaving the city centre.
