Caernarfon Castle

medieval · Wales · fortification · history

Built by a King. King Edward I of England started building the stone castle in 1283 to control north Wales and make it his admin center. It replaced an older motte-and-bailey castle that had stood there since the late 1000s.

Roman Inspiration. Edward I designed the castle walls to look like the famous Walls of Constantinople (the ancient city now called Istanbul). Nearby, there was even an old Roman fort called Segontium, connecting the castle to Wales' Roman past.

Seriously Strong Defenses. The castle's walls were built on a grand scale with massive stones and towers to show how powerful the king was. It was meant to impress people and show that Edward I controlled this part of Wales.

Town Center. Caernarfon Castle didn't just protect soldiers, it was the center of government for all of north Wales. Important decisions about the region were made there.