History, heritage and traditions

An impressive history Wales has gathered with a fair few traditions added along the way. Historic castles, Roman forts right on through to traditional recipes and celebrations.

A castle on a hill surrounded by countryside with mountains in the background.

Visit our UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales

Find out how to make the most of your visit to each of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales.

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Discover our story

castle and moat with tree.

Royalty and Romans: Wales has an incredible history

Brutal invasions, castles, myths, legends and industrial works; the story of Wales is captivating.

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people walking on wooden bridge towards castle.

Discover the myths and legends of Cymru

Here’s our guide to where to discover the best myths and legends in Wales.

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An illustration of St David.

Five facts about Saint David

Discover the answers to five frequently asked questions about St David, the patron saint of Wales.

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View of Bardsey Island from land.

An Arthurian adventure in Wales

From fabled fortresses to hallowed hoof prints, Wales has dozens of King Arthur sites to discover.

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Daffodils in foreground with a blurred out building in the background.

Epic ways to celebrate St David’s Day

The first day of March is celebrated in Wales with parties and parades. Here's how to join the fun.

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colourful blankets on washing line.

Unravelling the history of Welsh wool

Follow the thread of Welsh wool from historic mills and ancient crafts to modern-day sheep trekking.

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ancient burial chamber at sunrise with red sky.

Delve into the prehistoric treasures of Wales

Uncover the secrets of prehistoric Wales by exploring Wales’ most awe-inspiring ancient sites.

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Search for places to stay, things to do, and things to see in Wales

Exterior of an old stone pub.

Drink in the history of these intriguing Welsh pubs

Poet and author Rhys Iorwerth shares his favourite Welsh pubs with an intriguing tale to tell.

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Mighty castles

A picture of castle's central island from the North.

Is Wales the castle capital of Europe?

With over 400 castles, wherever you go on holiday in Wales, you won't be too far from one to visit.

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a group of people on a guided tour in an ornately decorated room of Cardiff Castle.

Cardiff Castle: an all-action attraction!

From the gargoyles on the castle walls to secret tunnels, Cardiff Castle is brought vividly to life.

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A grassy area within a large castle.

Caernarfon's military might

Discover an ancient Celtic town with a Roman barracks and imposing medieval castle.

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family walking near castle.

Find out what's different about these castles…

Looking for castles with strange stories behind them? Here are a few of our favourites.

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Close up of tomb stone

Wales and the USA

There are many ties between Wales and America you can discover across Wales. Find out more.

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castle on top of a hill from afar, with the sea in the background and houses in the foreground.

Follow in the footsteps of the princes of Gwynedd

After the Romans the princes of Gwynedd ruled. Here’s a tribute to Wales’ greatest warlords.

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North Wales

Discover Wales' heritage in one of our many museums

A red locomotive inside the museum at Rhyl Miniature Railway.

Mad for museums in Wales

Wales has over 90 accredited museums, ranging from industrial heritage, to textiles and fine art.

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An industrial steam engine and wagon displayed in a window fronted museum.

Discover our seven National Museums

For Welsh history and culture, our seven, free entry National Museums take some beating.

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Discover the people and local history of Cymru

Journey through Welsh history at the smaller, specialised museums across Wales.

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Coal wagon displayed at a museum.

Discover our maritime and industrial heritage

Several Welsh museums tell the stories our shoreline communities and industrial heritage of Cymru.

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Displays of artefacts at National Museum Wales.

Enjoy virtual exhibitions from Welsh museums

Take in some wonderful Welsh art and culture by going on a virtual visit to these museums.

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A stage at a festival in a field.

Your guide to music festivals in Wales

Feed your mind, body and soul at one of the dozens of music festivals taking place across Wales.

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© Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright

A sign on a post that says Wales Coast Path.

Shwmae - and welcome to Cymru!

We answer everything you ever wanted to know about the Welsh language but were afraid to ask.

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Llanfair PG sign at railway station, with name in full.

Poetry in motion - discover the language of Wales

Learn about the origins of the Welsh language and how it's still thriving today.

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three female walkers on a hill in the countryside, with bluebells and a tree.

Find your roots and trace your family tree

Discover sources of information and genealogy tours to help you trace your Welsh family history.

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Signpost on coastal path looking over water.

10 short Wales Coast Path walks through history

Ten walks along the Wales Coast Path taking in castles and places of Welsh history and heritage.

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Top down aerial shot of Castell Dolbadarn, Eryri (Snowdonia).

Heritage and sightseeing

Hear fascinating stories from the past at the best of our Welsh castles, monuments and museums.

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three people looking at a steam train.

Heritage railway heaven

Wales is home to some of the most famous narrow gauge and miniature gauge railways in the world.

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© Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright