Top 4 Castles around Llantrisant Fawr

A magnificent old ruin. One of main in the area.

Clytha Castle (Welsh: Castell Cleidda) is a folly near Clytha between Llanarth and Raglan in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Dating from 1790, the castle was built by William Jones, owner of the Clytha Park estate as a memorial to his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1787. The castle is an example of the Gothic Revival and comprises three towers, of which two are habitable, and linking, castellated curtain walls. Long attributed to John Nash, recent research has confirmed that the architect was John Davenport of Shrewsbury. The folly has views towards the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid mountains on the easternmost edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Described by the architectural historian John Newman as one of the two "outstanding examples of late eighteenth century fanciful Gothic in the county", Clytha Castle is a Grade I listed building.

A fine example of Gothic Revival architecture, Clytha Castle is one of Wales' outstanding 18th-century follies. It forms a part of the Clytha Estate, a tranquil landscaped park containing a Grade I-listed house, as well as the castle. The folly was built in 1790 by William Jones as a memorial to his late wife Elizabeth. It stands proud on Clytha Hill to the backdrop of a grove of chestnut trees.

A secretive ancient fortress nestled on a promontory above the town, Usk Castle is a romantic ruin. Thought to have been established in the early 12th century on the site of a former Roman fort, it has seen its fair share of conflict. Today, it is Grade I-listed and is open on special occasions, to Usk Castle Friends on set days, as well as to those using the nearby glamping facilities.

Raglan Castle (Welsh: Castell Rhaglan) is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th centuries, when the successive ruling families of the Herberts and the Somersets created a luxurious, fortified castle, complete with a large hexagonal keep, known as the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent. Surrounded by parkland, water gardens and terraces, the castle was considered by contemporaries to be the equal of any other in England or Wales. During the English Civil War the castle was held on behalf of Charles I but was taken by Parliamentary forces in 1646. In the aftermath, the castle was slighted, or deliberately put beyond military use; after the restoration of Charles II, the Somersets declined to restore the castle. Raglan Castle became first a source of local building materials, then a romantic ruin. It now attracts visitors as a modern tourist attraction.

Chepstow Castle Wales eldest surviving post Roman stone fortifications in Britain located above the cliffs on the river wye.Construction began in 1067 under the instructions of the norman lord William Fitzosbern. Originally known as Strigull it was southernmost of a chain of castles built in the welsh marches, and with its attached lordship took the name of the adjoining market town in the 14th century. In the 12th century the castle was used in the conquest of Gwent the first independent Welsh kingdom to be conquered by the Norman's. It was subsequently held by two of the most powerful Anglo-normans magnets of medieval England.However in the 16th century its military importance had waned and part of the structure was converted for domestic use.the castle has now become a popular visitor destination.

Standing proudly on a limestone cliff above the River Wye, Chepstow Castle is a magnificent fortress with a history that stretches back nearly 1,000 years. Founded in 1067 by Earl William fitz Osbern, a close friend of William the Conqueror, the castle was one of the first Norman strongholds in Wales. These days, it is an interesting place to visit and affords some stunning views.

Raglan Castle is one of the last medieval castles to be built in England and Wales. The still standing ruins have impressively stood the test of time, and a visit is definitely worth it! Entry costs 6.50 for adults and the castle is open all year.