CAERPHILLY CASTLE, WALES
Caerphilly Castle, covering an area of 30 acres, is the largest castle in Wales and one of the biggest in all of Britain.
In 1268, 'Red Gilbert' de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, began building the castle to defend contested land during his conflict with Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales.
The large central island, is protected by lakes to the north and south, a fortified screen wall to the east, that forms a barbican and a ward with a stone revetment to the west. The high curtain wall of the inner ward, is defended on the angles by huge circular towers and dominated by a massive keep-gatehouse. The lower outer curtain wall is flanked by open bastions and two twin-turreted gateways. The castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Britain and a supreme example of military fortifications, supported by extensive and unique water defences. A mound to the north-west is a Civil War artillery redoubt, built on the site of a Roman fort. One and a half miles east is Gwern-y-Domen and 7 miles south is Cardiff Castle.
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