Cadw is a Welsh word meaning ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’. And that’s exactly what they do. They are working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales.
Cadw is made up of around 250 people working across a range of disciplines.
Around 100 of their people are custodians — working at monuments in their care — or are part of the in-house teams that undertake conservation and maintenance at our sites.
They have specialist staff, including field monument wardens and inspectors of historic buildings, ancient monuments and historic parks and gardens, who are based all over Wales.
Many of their staff are regularly ‘out and about’ around Wales, visiting sites, meeting the public or local authority representatives — little of Cadw’s work can be done only from behind a desk.
Entrance Ticket
Caernarfon Castle is recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages.
This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site. But for sheer scale and architectural drama Caernarfon stands alone.
Here Edward and his military architect Master James of St George erected a castle, town walls and a quay all at the same time. This gigantic building project eventually took 47 years and cost a staggering £25,000.
The castle was born out of bitter war with Welsh princes. So of course its immense curtain walls and daunting King’s Gate were designed to withstand assault. But the polygonal towers, eagle statues and multi-coloured masonry sent a more subtle message.
These echoed imperial Roman architecture, especially the walls of Constantinople. They also recalled the Welsh myth of Macsen Wledig, who dreamed of a great fort at the mouth of a river – ‘the fairest that man ever saw’.
So Caernarfon is a castle of dreams. A legend brought to life. Even after 700 years it still stirs the imagination like no other Welsh castle.
OPENING TIMES
01/04/23-31/03/24
Daily
Closed: 27th April 2023, 24th-26th December and 1st January
Note: during extreme weather conditions the attraction may need to close at short notice.
