Cardiff & The Valleys
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Description
Big city, capital of Wales and lots of history.
Big city, capital of Wales and lots of history.
Region
Cardiff
Cardiff
Pronounced
car-dif
car-dif
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and in recent years has developed itself into a truly modern and cosmopolitan place, offering the best in culture, history and sporting entertainment as well as plenty of fine dining and great nightlife.
There are stunning new buildings such as the Millennium Centre – a fantastic arts and cultural venue – the slate and glass Welsh Parliament Building and the Millennium Stadium with its impressive sliding roof. Despite its modern look, the city is not afraid to remember its past and the National Museum – one of the best in Europe – and Cardiff’s centrally located Castle do this well.
Activities
Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, home to the Welsh national rugby team, is open for tours. Better still is the awe-inspiring experience of catching a match as Wales’ rugby heroes do battle on the field.The Wales Millennium Centre is one of the most original and lively performing arts centres in Europe. The Welsh National Opera perform regularly here.
Cardiff Castle has 2000 years of history. You can take guided tours of spectacular Victorian gothic apartments designed by William Burges or climb to the top of the 12th Century Norman Keep.The National History Museum on the edge of the city is a 100 acre park filled with restored and authentically furnished buildings from all over Wales, helping to illustrate the country’s heritage.
The National Museum and Art Gallery contains a wonderful collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art – the largest outside Paris. The natural history section contains a geological history. What's nearby
Caerphilly Castle is a beautiful medieval fortress, 7 miles north of Cardiff. It is the largest castle in Britain after Windsor, and its 3 moats and 6 portcullises make it one of the finest in Europe. Castell Coch, set amidst a heavily wooded hillside (5 miles north-west of Cardiff), has a real fairytale feel about it. Complete with turrets, tall conical towers and a drawbridge, the castle seems to have more in common with a Bavarian palace.
The Welsh Valleys north of Cardiff, are famous for their pioneering role in the industrial revolution. A unique blend of industrial heritage and stunning scenery is on offer today, with a male voice choir thrown in for good measure. Attractions include...
...The National Mining Museum of Wales, which includes a world famous underground tour where you can find out what life was like as a miner.
...The Rhondda Heritage Park at Trehafod.
Down the coast from Cardiff, the town of Barry was once one of the great British seaside resorts, and has been put back on the map due to the recent success of the popular BBC TV comedy series ‘Gavin & Stacey’ filmed in and around the town.
Did you know...
Cardiff is one of the flattest cities in Britain and has more hours of sunlight than Milan!
Cardiff is one of the flattest cities in Britain and has more hours of sunlight than Milan!
From the region:
Sir Tom Jones (singer)
Charlotte Church (singer)
Tommy Cooper (comedian)
Sir Tom Jones (singer)
Charlotte Church (singer)
Tommy Cooper (comedian)
For more info: www.visitcardiff.com
