Castell Coch, Gothic Revival castle in Tongwynlais, Wales
Castell Coch is a Gothic Revival fortress on a wooded hilltop in Tongwynlais, built from red sandstone, limestone, and Pennant stone. The three circular towers – the Keep, Kitchen Tower, and Well Tower – rise above the surrounding forests and are connected through an inner courtyard.
The original Norman castle from the 11th century fell into ruin over the centuries. Architect William Burges rebuilt it between 1875 and 1891 for the third Marquess of Bute as a romantic country retreat in the Gothic style.
The name means Red Castle and refers to the warm tone of the sandstone used, which stands out clearly against the green wooded hillside. Visitors today can walk through elaborately decorated interiors filled with mythological scenes and medieval motifs.
The fortress sits at the edge of woodland above Tongwynlais and is reached by a short walk from the parking area. Cadw manages the site and offers tours through the rooms and towers, though the layout includes some steep staircases.
Lord Bute planted an experimental vineyard here that produced wine until World War I. The steep slopes around the fortress were considered an unusual location for winemaking in Wales at the time.
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Medieval castles and fortresses span Europe, documenting defense systems and princely seats from the 9th through 16th centuries. These sites include mountaintop strongholds such as Montségur in the Pyrenees, island fortifications like Trakai in Lithuania, and coastal defenses such as Kronborg in...
Wales features a region with three national parks, including Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire coast park, as well as fortresses like Conwy and Caernarfon castles built by Edward I in the 13th century, and religious buildings such as St. David's Cathedral. The coastline alternates between red...
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