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See Kidwelly Castle rising above the river Gwendraeth on a misty morning and prepare to be amazed. This is the medieval fortress of everyone’s dreams.

That’s probably why it appears in the very first scene of ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. But it would have been no laughing matter to attack this military stronghold.

Kidwelly began in the early 12th century as a Norman ‘ringwork’ castle made of wood and protected only by an earthen bank and ditch. Not surprisingly it was under constant attack by Welsh princes including the Lord Rhys, who captured it in 1159.

Four decades later the Normans were back in charge. By the 1280s the Chaworth brothers, powerful Marcher lords, had created the stone ‘castle within a castle’ that still stands today.

Imagine being a Welsh attacker. First you had to conquer the great gatehouse with its drawbridge and portcullis, a hail of arrows and rocks raining down on you. Breach these outer defences and you were faced by the four towers of the inner ward. No way forward – and nowhere to hide. A true killing zone.

After centuries of see-sawing conflict between Norman invaders and native princes Kidwelly was now a match for any castle in Wales. The gatehouse added by the Duchy of Lancaster was the icing on the cake. Even the forces of Owain Glyndwr couldn’t break through.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Children

  • Children welcome

Parking

  • Free Parking

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Gift shop
  • Public toilets
  • Smoking not allowed

Site Features

  • Regional Tourist Board Member

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups

Map & Directions

Road Directions

M4 West Junction 48 & A4138 signed for Llanelli; take the A484 (signed for Town Centre) and continue on the A484 through Pembrey and on towards Kidwelly. Left at the roundabout where signed for the town and the Castle and continue through the town; the Castle will be signed on the right.

Accessible by Public Transport: Kidwelly station is 2 miles away.

Kidwelly Castle (Cadw)

Type:Castle

Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, SA17 5BQ

Add Kidwelly Castle (Cadw) to your Itinerary

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Tel03000 252239

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