Castell Coch, Cardiff (must see)

Castell Coch is Welsh for "Red Castle." It is 19th century Gothic-Revival restoration of a Norman castle in the village of Tongynlais in South Wales. The original castle was built in 1081, not long after the Norman invasion. It was meant to protect the town of Cardiff and the road by Taff Gorge.

The Castell was abandoned after 1093. In 1267 Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, rebuilt the Castell with stone around the old motte. It was a small but powerful fortification. All for naught. After the death in battle of Gilbert's son (also Gilbert) in 1307, came the Welsh rebellion of 1314 and the Castell was destroyed.

The ruins of the castell were acquired by the Earls of Bute in 1760. In 1848 the 3rd Marquess of Bute, John Crichton-Stuart, inherited the Castell. He was an aficionado of antiquities and medieval architecture. In 1871 Bute commissioned William Burges, architect and fellow aficionado to rebuild Castell Coch in the Gothic Revival style.

The Castell architecture is High Victorian Gothic-Revival with 19th century French elements. It has three circular towers: the Keep, the Kitchen Tower and the Well Tower. Inside the Towers are a group of apartments. They are the Castellan's Rooms, the Hall, the Drawing Room, and the bedrooms. The interior is entirely High Victorian in style.

The woods above the Castell are open to the public. East of the Castell is a nine-hole golf course.