Caernarfon is Edward I's most ambitious colonial project in Wales — a walled town and a castle conceived together in 1283 as the administrative capital of English-controlled north Wales. It is also, five centuries later, a living Welsh-language town, its streets inside the medieval walls now home to Welsh-speaking families, independent shops, and a vibrant local culture that has thoroughly outlasted the English colonialism that built its walls. This is Experience #40 of the Snowdonia 100.
Walking the Walls
The complete circuit of Caernarfon's town walls is approximately 800 metres — a walk of 30 to 45 minutes on the wall walk itself, with views down into the town interior and out over the Menai Strait and the castle. The walls are among the best-preserved medieval town fortifications in Britain, and the wall walk is largely intact. Entry is via the castle ticket (Cadw) and the walk is not to be missed.
| Castle | Cadw UNESCO World Heritage Site — open daily |
| Wall walk | Included in castle admission |
| Market | Saturday market in the square — produce and craft |
| Language | Strongly Welsh-speaking — S4C headquarters nearby |
The Town Today
The street plan within the walls is essentially medieval — the two main streets meeting at the market square, the castle dominating the waterfront, the quay beyond. Welsh is heard as frequently as English on the high street. The contrast between the castle's military English origins and the Welsh-language community that now inhabits the walls is Caernarfon's defining characteristic — a medieval English fortress that has become a stronghold of Welsh culture.
Experience #40 of 100 — Places category. See the full Caernarfon guide.
Independently written — Snowdon.com