Abergavenny Castle, Norman castle in Abergavenny, Wales
Abergavenny Castle is a Norman fortress in Wales standing on elevated ground above the River Usk. The site contains remains of a high curtain wall from the 12th century, defensive towers, a moat, and foundations of buildings that once held cellars, kitchens, and a chapel.
Norman lord Hamelin de Ballon founded the fortress in 1087 to defend against Welsh attacks from the north and west. A period of border conflict followed, marked by executions within the castle walls.
The castle grounds now house a museum inside a Victorian hunting lodge built atop the original motte structure. Visitors can explore exhibitions about the region's past and the fortress's role in local history.
Be prepared for uneven ground and partially exposed foundations among the ruins as you explore. Visiting earlier in the day works well, as better light highlights the structures and there tend to be fewer visitors around.
The fortress witnessed one of the earliest massacres of Welsh nobility during the Norman conquest when executions took place in 1088. This dark chapter made the site a symbol of the tensions between two cultures fighting for control of the borderlands.
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