The capital of Wales, Cardiff lies on the northern banks of the Mouth of the Severn estuary, which empties into the Bristol Channel. Strategically located, the town’s site provided its people a port from the Bristol Channel as well as a beginning point for trade and travel into the Welsh countryside via its three navigable rivers - the Taff, Ely and Rhymney.
The Tower, Cardiff Castle
After the Romans settled in Wales, the invaders realized the intrinsic value of Cardiff’s location and constructed a fort in the middle of the town around 75 AD to serve as protection and forward post to threats from the sea. After their rule of Britain ended, the Romans abandoned the fort some 300 years later, but the structure remained and would be built upon by William the Conqueror’s Normans in the 11th century.
A century later, the Duke of Gloucester, Robert Consol, rebuilt the wooden structure with stone where it remained a prominent fixture in Cardiff until the town was sacked by Owain Glyndwr’s Welsh army in the 15th century.
In 1423, Robert Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, had the defenses and buildings of the site rebuilt and added a tower to the grounds to form what is known today as Cardiff Castle.
The castle was refurbished and finalized by William Burgess in the 19th century on orders from the third Marquis of Bute. The history of the capital of Wales is inseparable from that of Cardiff Castle, which is why the structure is a must-see for visitors interested in the rich and diverse history of the ancient land.
Cardiff received city status from King Edward VII in 1905 after the Glamorganshire canal was constructed, linking Cardiff’s port with immense coal reserves in Merthyr Tydfil. The canal was vital in establishing Cardiff as the largest coal exporter in the world during the early 19th century. The promise of wealth and availability of work offered by the coal exporting business drew settlers from regions across Europe who pitched camp near the docks and established a richly diverse mix of people and customs that define Cardiff even today.
The Millenium Stadium
After decades of decline, the city of Cardiff was revitalized in the 90’s with the construction of a national stadium and development of the dock area of the city. Opened in 1999, the 74,500-seat capacity, retractable roof Millenium Stadium hosted the Rugby World Cup and is a popular venue for big-ticket concerts and sporting events.
Cardiff Bay, once the site of coal exporting on a global scale, has been transformed into a waterfront community. The transformation was sparked by the construction of Cardiff Bay Barrage in 1999, which created a fresh water lake at the docks that had always experienced one of the largest tidal flows in the world. Without the mudflats exposed for half the day by low tide, the area has become a highly desirable place to live and play.
A diverse mix of cultures has left their mark on the Welsh capital of Cardiff. From the early Roman fort, whose walls are still visible at Cardiff Castle, to the influx of peoples from across Europe in the coal-exporting boom, the character of Cardiff offers a unique experience to visitors across the world.