Celebrating Castles

Wales is said to have more castles – at around 600 ─than any other country of comparable size. Often set in spectacular settings on hilltops and on coastal headlands, these iconic reminders of our turbulent past are a major attraction to visitors and local communities alike. Some are elaborate multi-period structures with furnished rooms and extensive grounds, others are reduced to a single crumbling tower or a lump in the ground but all have a fascinating history. 

 This gallery aims to give you a quick pictorial idea of the number and range of castles in Wales with each castle having a single colour image. It starts with Abergavenny castle and ends with Ystradowen castle. To find out more about the individual sites, click on the photo and then the ‘See Full Details’ red link, and once on that page scroll down to the ‘Site Details’ at the bottom to link to the full record for that castle. 

 Our records for these castles include not only the Royal Commission’s photographs and drawings but also material produced by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service, and its predecessors including records of the Ministry of Works, dating from the 1890s. These key records, as well as a range of other material, provide plenty of scope for more in-depth research. Here on Coflein you will find more digital images to view, enjoy and share.