The wonderful Brecon Beacons and the lovely surrounding area has many historic buildings. For those of you interested in history the region makes an outstanding selection for a vacation. Children will adore exploring all the castles that the area has to offer.
Abergavenny Castle, on the edge of the national park, is positioned above the River Usk and is Norman in origin. Enough remains of this castle to show that it was one time an extremely impressive building with very high walls. The castle is now home to Abergavenny Museum. The displays in the museum tell the story of the town from prehistory through to the present day and there are many fascinating exhibits. There is also a picnic area and museum shop.
Crickhowell Castle was built by the Normans and its ruins are a prominent feature of this tiny market town. It occupies a great vantage point with magnificent views along the Usk Valley. It is thought that it began life as a motte and bailey castle constructed out of timber and was later rebuilt in stone. However, like many Norman Castles it suffered at the hands of Owain Glyndwr and it seems that it was never rebuilt.
Carreg Cennen Castle is located four miles south east of Llandeilo and is situated in a spectacular location. The castle dominates the countryside as it sits on the top of a limestone crag. It offers panoramic views of the adjacent area and also serves as one of the principle landmarks in the national park. On one side of the ruined castle there is a three hundred foot sheer drop. It is on this side that a steep series of steps take you through a passage that goes deep in to the bedrock beneath the fortifications. At the end of this passage there is a limestone cave which may have provided the castle with a water supply.
Cwm Camlais Castle was a very small castle and unfortunately not much of its construction now remains. Its history is uncertain, but it is thought that it was damaged in 1265 and never repaired.
Tretower Castle was a late eleventh century wooden structure which was replaced by a stone building in later years. It is located next to a medieval manor house.
Brecon Cathedral is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Wales. It has been a site of Christian worship for more than a thousand years dating from the Norman times. The cathedral also houses a heritage centre which has a restaurant, shop and herb garden. The display makes use of modern technology to tell the story of Brecon Priory from the eleventh century to the present day.
Jane writes for cottages 4 holidays which has a fine selection of holiday cottages in Wales to rent including a number of holiday cottages in the Brecon Beacons.
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