Carmarthenshire, Principal area in southwest Wales, Great Britain.
Carmarthenshire is a principal area in southwest Wales that stretches from the Bristol Channel inland to the slopes of the Black Mountain. The county includes coastal towns, wide valleys along the Towy, and wooded hills in the northeast.
The Romans built a fort near Carmarthen around 75 AD, establishing one of the earliest permanent settlements in Wales. During the Middle Ages, the region became a center of Welsh princely power before passing under English control.
The name Carmarthen comes from the Roman settlement Moridunum, meaning fortress by the sea. In the northern valleys, Welsh remains the main language of daily life, while English dominates along the southern coast.
The three main towns of Llanelli, Carmarthen, and Ammanford are well connected by road and rail, with Carmarthen serving as the administrative hub. Visitors exploring the county should allow extra time for rural areas, as distances between villages can be long.
The Towy flows for about 68 miles (109 km) entirely within Wales, making it the longest river to do so. The National Botanic Garden of Wales near Llanarthne contains the largest single-span glasshouse in Britain.
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