Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle was built between 1283 and 1289 for Edward I as part of his campaign to control Gwynedd, again to the design of Master James of St George. Rising directly from rock above the estuary, its eight massive towers and two barbicans form one of the most complete surviving examples of late 13th-century military architecture in Europe. Together with the walled town it protected, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visitors sometimes describe an oppressive or watchful atmosphere in the darker towers and the chapel, and local tradition speaks of figures glimpsed on the battlements and footsteps in empty stairwells. Given the castle's harsh history of siege and hardship, such tales are easy to attach to particular corners, but they remain anecdotal reports rather than recorded incidents.

Conwy rewards a research-minded visit. Its construction is exceptionally well documented, and the standing fabric is so intact that you can trace exactly how each space was used, then judge for yourself how much of the "atmosphere" comes from stone, weather and expectation.

Conwy Castle is in the care of Cadw and is open to the public for a paid admission, with seasonal opening hours that are shorter in winter. The steep stairs and high wall-walks reward a head for heights.

As a World Heritage monument it is protected by law; visitors are asked to keep to marked routes, avoid climbing on the masonry and help preserve the site for others.