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Buildings and Structures

Caernarfon Castle

Fortifications and Military Architecture

Caernarfon Castle stands on the Menai Strait in northwest Wales, begun in 1283 on the orders of King Edward I of England as part of his campaign to complete the conquest of Wales, replacing an earlier Norman motte-and-bailey fortress on the same site. Its polygonal towers and bands of different colored stone were deliberately modeled on the Theodosian land walls of Constantinople, a design choice meant to link the new English stronghold visually to imperial Roman authority. The castle was also built as a seat of government and royal residence rather than a purely military work, and it has twice hosted the investiture of the Prince of Wales, for the future Edward VIII in 1911 and for Charles, the future King Charles III, in 1969. Caernarfon Castle forms part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Facts
Building Type
Fortress 1
Location
Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales 1
Completed YearSourced to the subject's own account
1283 2
Classification
Standing Status
Standing 1
Building Type
Building Type (category)
Fort / Fortress 1
Connections

Has Building Type

Fortification, Concepts

Uses Element

Stone, Architectural Materials
Source Caernarfon Castle, Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases

Located In

United Kingdom

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.

Sources
1. Caernarfon Castle, Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    Caernarfon Castle (Welsh: Castell Caernarfon; Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ kaɨrˈnarvɔn]) is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.
  • Later history
    In 1986, Caernarfon was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites as part of the "Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd" in recognition of its global importance and to help conserve and protect the site. The castle houses the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.
  • Wikipedia infobox building_type field
    Caernarfon Castle (Welsh: Castell Caernarfon; Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ kaɨrˈnarvɔn]) is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The first fortification on the site was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century, which King Edward I of England began to replace with the current stone structure in 1283. The castle and town established by Edward acted as the administrative
  • Uses Element: Stone, Wikipedia lead
    The first fortification on the site was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century, which King Edward I of England began to replace with the current stone structure in 1283.
View the Source
2. Caernarfon Castle (Wikidata)
Wikimedia FoundationWikidata date-of-opening/inception statement (1283)
Quote, Wikidata date-of-opening/inception statement (1283)
Wikidata item Q275128, property P571: 1283
View the Source
Wikidata: Caernarfon Castle
Wikidata Q29492556, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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