museum
National Slate Museum
Fascinating museum in a former quarry workshop at the foot of Snowdon, telling the story of the Welsh slate industry that roofed the world.
10 km · about 20 min drive
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
Caernarfon works well as a base: 10 minutes from Llanwnda, 15km from Llanberis Pass.
Caernarfon is a town located in Wales, United Kingdom. With a population of 9,730, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Caernarfon sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Caernarfon to your route.
Caernarfon (; Welsh: [kaɨrˈnarvɔn] ) is a royal town, community and port, in Gwynedd, Wales. The community (which includes Caeathro) has a population of 9,852. It lies along the A4871 road, on the eastern shore of the Menai Strait, opposite the island of Anglesey. Bangor is 9 miles (14 km) to the north-east,Read more
Porthmadog is 20 miles (32 km) southeast and Holyhead is 29 miles (47 km) northwest, via the Britannia Bridge. Snowdonia (Eryri) is located to the east and south-east of the town. The town is the historic county town of Caernarfonshire.
Abundant natural resources in and around the Menai Strait enabled human habitation in prehistoric Britain. The Ordovices, a Celtic tribe, lived in the region during the period known as Roman Britain. The Roman fort Segontium was established around AD 80 to subjugate the Ordovices during the Roman conquest of Britain. The Romans occupied the region until the end of Roman rule in Britain in 382, after which Caernarfon became part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. In the late 11th century, William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a motte-and-bailey castle at Caernarfon as part of the Norman invasion of Wales. He was unsuccessful, and Wales remained independent until around 1283.
In the 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, ruler of Gwynedd, refused to pay homage to Edward I of England, prompting the English conquest of Gwynedd. This was followed by the construction of Caernarfon Castle, one of the largest and most imposing fortifications built by the English in Wales. In 1284, the English-style county of Caernarfonshire was established by the Statute of Rhuddlan; the same year, Caernarfon was made a borough, a county and market town, and the seat of English government in north Wales.
The ascent of the Welsh House of Tudor to the throne of England eased hostilities with the English and resulted in Caernarfon Castle falling into a state of disrepair. The town has flourished, leading to its status as a major tourist centre and seat of Gwynedd Council, with a thriving harbour and marina. Caernarfon has expanded beyond its medieval walls and experienced heavy suburbanisation. The community of Caernarfon's population includes the highest percentage of Welsh-speaking citizens anywhere in Wales. The status of Royal Borough was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963 and amended to Royal Town in 1974. The castle and town walls are part of a World Heritage Site described as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd.
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Caernarfon offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Caernarfon is located in Wales, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 53.1413 latitude, -4.2702 longitude.
Caernarfon has a population of approximately 9,730 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
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Full driving guide for United Kingdom8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Fascinating museum in a former quarry workshop at the foot of Snowdon, telling the story of the Welsh slate industry that roofed the world.
10 km · about 20 min drive
photogenic
Tidal island off Anglesey with the whitewashed Tŵr Mawr lighthouse, ruined chapel of the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and Snowdonia filling the horizon across the strait. Walk from Newborough beach car park.
10 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Island off northwest Wales connected by two bridges, rich in Neolithic sites, dramatic coastal paths and the famous long-named village of Llanfairpwll.
11 km · about 20 min drive
bridge
Thomas Telford's pioneering 1826 suspension bridge over the swirling Menai Strait, the historic road gateway to Anglesey and one of the world's first great suspension bridges.
11 km · about 20 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Wales's highest peak at 1,085 metres, accessible by multiple walking routes or the Snowdon Mountain Railway, with views spanning to Ireland.
15 km · about 30 min drive
mountain pass
A dramatic glacial pass beneath Snowdon's crags, a magnet for climbers and one of Wales's great driving roads.
15 km · about 30 min drive
racetrack
Spectacular clifftop race circuit on the Anglesey coast with views across the Irish Sea to Snowdonia. Regularly voted one of the UK's most scenic tracks for car and bike track days.
16 km · about 20 min drive
castle
The most technically perfect medieval castle in Britain, the unfinished masterpiece of Edward I's iron ring of fortresses on Anglesey.
18 km · about 20 min drive
April to October
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