Have you ever thought about going to Caernarfon Castle, but wanted to know a little more about it before you set out on your adventure? Caernarfon Castle is a great castle to visit for so many different reasons, and this is something that we are going to talk about in this article. 

We are going to tell you everything that you need to know about this castle, including how much it costs to get in, what you can expect from your visit, and a little bit of history about the castle itself. This will help you to find out more about the castle and see if it is worth the visit.

How much does it cost to go to Caernarfon Castle?

The prices for entry to Caernarfon Castle are quite reasonable. We will leave a full price list below, so you can see for yourself.

  • Adult Ticket – £9.25
  • Junior Ticket (Aged 5 to 17) – £6.60
  • Family Ticket – £31.00
  • Disabled and companion ticket – Free
  • Armed forces and Veterans – £6.60
  • Senior Ticket (Aged 65+) – £8.80

These prices are very reasonable when you consider the size of the castle, and you should also know that children under the age of 5 will receive free entry. If you are thinking about booking a family ticket, you should be aware that this covers the admission of 2 adults and up to 3 children. 

Can you go inside Caernarfon Castle?

Yes, you can go inside Caernarfon Castle. There may be times when certain parts of the castle are closed off due to restoration works, but you are free to roam around the inside of the castle for the most part. There are also a variety of interesting exhibits dotted around to inform you about the interesting history of the castle.

Is Caernarfon worth visiting?

Caernarfon Castle is definitely worth visiting if you want to experience the history of this castle with your own eyes. Caernarfon Castle is one of Caernarfon’s biggest tourist attractions, and you won’t be disappointed with what you find there. The price is more than worth it for everything that this castle has to offer, and it is also a nice area to take a stroll around the grounds. You can expect to spend at least 2 hours here, or longer if you like to take your time, and there is plenty to see and do.

How long did Caernarfon Castle take to build?

You might be surprised to learn about how quickly Caernarfon Castle was built, as even though it was built by hand, it appears that the castle was completed after just 5 years of construction. The earliest reference to building at Caernarfon dates all the way back to the 24th of June 1283. 

At this point in time, a ditch had been dug to separate the site of the castle from the town. After this, town walls were added to the structure, and a new quay was built to facilitate supplying the fortress. To aid the construction of Caernarfon Castle, hundreds of tradesmen and labourers would have travelled some distance to apply their skills.

These builders would have carried their own building equipment with them, and according to historical documents, supplies and timber were shipped along the sea routes to Caernarfon’s receiving docks from Liverpool and other areas in North Wales.

Does Caernarfon castle have a dungeon?

No, there is no dungeon at Caernarfon Castle, but there are lots of other interesting features to grab your attention.

What does Caernarfon mean in English?

As you may have already noticed, Caernarfon is a Welsh word, but it was formerly spelled Carnarvon in English. However, the Welsh spelling is universal today. ‘Caer’ is typically in reference to a fortress that predated the stone castles that were built by the Welsh and Normans.

‘Arfon’ was actually the name of a cantref, which is a Welsh administrative district, along the southern shore of the Menai Strait. This name likely would have signified that it was opposite Anglesey. The Arfon District Council was abolished in 1996, but Arfon is still maintained as a geographical subdivision.

The ‘n’ that is located in the middle of the word is simply a shortened version of ‘yn’, which is Welsh for in. All of this means that the name translates to Fortress in Arfon. 

Who owned Caernarfon Castle?

Caernarfon Castle was built by Edward I of England, who was the king of England between 1272 and 1307. The purpose of this castle was to control the newly conquered area, as well as many other castles with the same intention. Edward I conquered the majority of Wales and joined it with the county system that was present in England.

After the death of Llywelyn, who was the Prince of Wales in 1282, the only part of Wales that was free was the mountainous north, and this is where the king built several major castles. The most important of these was Caernarfon castle. The site was chosen along the Menai Strait and at the mouth of the Seiont River. Interestingly, it had previously been the location of a Roman fort, which was abandoned in 394 CE.

When was Caernarfon Castle built?

Work first began on this castle in the summer of 1283, and it took just 5 years for it to be completed. 

What type of castle is Caernarfon Castle?

Caernarfon Castle was originally a motte and bailey castle from the late 11th century, all the way up until 1283, when King Edward I of England decided to replace it with the current stone structure. The Edwardian town and castle acted as the administrative centre of North Wales, and as a result, the defences were built on a grand scale. Today, this castle is referred to as a royal fortress, and it is recognised as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages.

Where is Caernarfon exactly in Wales?

Caernarfon Castle is located in Caernarfon, in Gwynedd County, which is the historic county of Caernarvonshire. This castle is in northern Wales, and it lies between the west end of the Menai Strait, and it separated the mainland from the Isle of Anglesey. Caernarfon is actually the administrative centre of Gwynedd and the historic county town of Caernarvonshire.

How many castles are there in North Wales?

North Wales still has many castles that have withstood the test of time, and Wales itself is home to more than 1000 Iron Age hill forts, as well as all of the castles that are still remaining. Castles are a major part of Welsh history, and in medieval times, there were around 600 castles across Wales. Today, around 100 of these are still standing.

North Wales in particular is one of the best-known locations when it comes to a wide range of medieval castles. King Edward I built lots of castles throughout North Wales during his reign from 1272 to 1307. Some of these castles still stand in different towns, and some of the most well-preserved medieval castles are Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris, and Harlech castles.

As well as all of the castles of Edward I, North Wales is also home to the ruins of castles that were once occupied by the Princes of Wales. While English kings and Norman lords were busy building castles to assert their control over Wales, the princes of Wales built Welsh towers. A great example of this is Dolbadarn Castle, which can be found overlooking Llyn Padarn in Llanberis. Dolbadarn Castle used to be an ancient link in the defence of the kingdom of Gwynedd. 

What was Caernarfon Castle used for?

Due to its great geographical location, Caernarfon had been one of the most important places in Wales at the time. Edward I was able to gain control of the town where others had failed to do so, and even though the castle was important for his own protection, it was mostly a symbol of his newfound power over the Welsh. 

Caernarfon Castle was also used as the seat of the English Government in Wales, and it was here that the English were able to exert their control over the country. Edward I also promised the people a Welsh-born Prince in a bid to try and gain the support of the Welsh population. After this, the eldest son in the English monarchy would be given the title ‘Prince of Wales’, which is a tradition that is still kept up to this day.

Another very important purpose of this castle was to enable the King to control traffic along the Menai Strait, which is a narrow body of water that lies between Wales and Anglesey. This was essential in order for him to be able to maintain his supremacy in the area.

Were there any battles at Caernarfon Castle?

Due to the fact that this castle served mainly as a symbol of the power that the English had over the Welsh, many Welsh people were not happy about its construction. The castle has seen its fair share of battles, but the most well-known of these battles took place in 1294.

This is when Welsh rebels managed to take over the castle. However, Edward I was able to recapture the castle just a year later. Another interesting event took place here during the British Civil War in 1648, when the Parliamentarians removed the Royalists that had occupied the castle.