CAERPHILLY CASTLE - WALES
Famous for its cheese, Caerphilly is also known for having the largest castle in Wales.
It looks like a stone behemoth surrounded by a series of moats and watery islands. It was the brainchild of Gilbert « the Red » de Clare, a red-headed nobleman of Norman descent. He built the original castle Coch, « Red Castle », which is located the other side of Caerphilly Mountain.
At the start, Gilbert’s attempts to build a castle were thwarted by the Welsh Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd but he won and finally this mammoth stronghold emerged, using walls within walls as a strong system of defence.
Finally, the threat posed by Llywellyn was quelled by Edward I and after there were castle alterations. The preservation work is the work of the 3rd Marquess of Bute.
Caerphilly Castle hosts now many cultural events a year.
