Caernarfon Castle, a replacement for an 11th-century fortification, was initiated by King Edward I in 1283. The castle, along with the existing town, served as the administrative center of north Wales, symbolizing English supremacy. Notably, the Roman past of Caernarfon can be traced nearby with the Roman fort of Segontium.
Construction on Caernarfon Castle took approximately ten years, with estimated costs ranging from £20,000 to £25,000. Apart from the financial toll, houses had to be displaced for construction, and residents were not compensated for three years.
The castle’s walls bore a striking resemblance to the Walls of Constantinople, reflecting Edward’s aspirations for power beyond England’s borders. Despite appears mostly intact from the exterior, many interior buildings no longer stand, and several parts of the structure were never completed.
The castle was unsuccessful in resisting siege during the Glyndŵr Rising of 1400-1415 and has since been restored, now serving as a popular tourist attraction maintained by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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