Escorted Rail Tours to Caernarfon Castle

A mighty symbol of medieval power

The ultimate symbol of medieval military might, Caernarfon Castle was built between 1283 and 1330, replacing an earlier structure from the 11th century. First and foremost it was designed to be a military stronghold for Edward I during his Welsh campaign, but also as a royal palace and a seat of government. The castle was built with spectacular polygonal towers, linked by a honeycomb of wall walks and tunnels, that were meant to resemble the famous 5th century walls of Constantinople. This design is believed to have helped later defensive campaigns; in 1404, an army of just 28 men were able to successfully fend off Owain Glyndwr's forces.