WALES
Vacations and Sightseeing

Basic information
Official language	Welsh, English
Capital	Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Area	20.761 km²
Population	ca. 3,170,000  (2020)
Currency	pound sterling  (GBP)
Web	.uk
Code.	GBR
Tel.	+44

Cities in WALES

Cardiff

Popular destinations UNITED KINGDOM

England	Northern ireland	Scotland
	Wales

Vacations and Sightseeing

Wales Roling Hills_{Photo: Unknown CrC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Tourism is of increasing economic importance. Wales draws in the natural beauty of its landscape, castles and many legends. There are rugged mountains, cool forests, mysterious lakes, a beautiful coastline and many picturesque towns and villages.

There are also beautiful hiking trails, and you can climb and canoe in the national parks. Historical sites attract tourists from all over the world. In addition to many museums, there are also more than a hundred impressive castles and remains of Roman fortresses and settlements.

Below are some of Wales' best-known landmarks.

Snowdonia National Park Wales_{Photo: Tim Felce CC 2.0 Generic no changes made}

Snowdonia National Park is located in the north of Wales and is a rugged and mountainous area with Mount Snowdon in its territory. That is the highest mountain (1088 meters) in England and Wales. There are some beautiful walking routes that lead to the top from which you can enjoy the surrounding landscape.

Caernarfon Castle, Wales_{Photo: Manfred Heyde CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Caernarfon Castle was built by King Edward I in the 13th century to house the first Prince of Wales. It is one of the largest castles in the country. With its 13 towers and two gates, this huge castle is considered one of the most impressive and best preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. On the site of an even older Norman castle, Caernarfon Castle is protected on one side by the River Seiont and Menai Street and on the other by a moat. The royal connection of the castle continues to this day and in 1969 the inauguration of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales took place here.

Breacon Beacon National park Wales_{Photo: Paul Lakin CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

Breacon Beacon National park is a popular area for hikers and is located in the south of Wales. It is hilly and also suitable for the less experienced hiker. The most famous hike is the one to the top of the highest mountain in this area, the Pen-y-Fan. This top is 886 meters high. The walk is easy to do and you enjoy beautiful views

South Stack Lighthouse, Angelsey Wales_{Photo: Paul Allison (CC BY-SA 2.0) no changes made}

The Isle of Anglesey is separated from mainland Wales by the Menai Strait spanned by the Menai Suspension. Here you will find a number of picturesque fishing villages spread along the 160 kilometer long coastline. Along with the sandy beaches and other attractions such as the South Stack Lighthouse, this island is popular for day-trippers. Finally, the island is home to one of the world's most famous railway platforms with the longest place name in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch.

View from Cardiff Castle Wales_{Photo: GerritR CC 4.0 International no changes made}

One of the most fashionable cities in the UK, Cardiff has been the capital of Wales for just over 50 years, with chic and modern shopping centers, historic Victorian shopping arcades and top restaurants. Cardiff Castle is the most famous building in Wales and it is located in the center of the city. This immense and impressive castle has about 2000 years of history. Its origin is Roman, and remains of the Roman wall can still be seen. After the Norman conquest, the castle got the shape we know today. In the 18th century, the castle came into the hands of the Bute family. Known as the richest man in the world around 1860, John Bute commissioned famous architect William Burgess to transform the castle enclosures. Within Gothic towers, he created lavish interiors, rich in murals, stained glass, marble, gilded and elaborate carvings. Each room has its own special theme. Cardiff plays an important role in the universe of the science-fiction drama series Dr Who. You can take a two-hour walking tour with a guide and visit numerous locations where the filming took place. Read more on the Cardiff page of TheWorldOfInfo.

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Sources

Beeftink, A. / Zuid-Engeland en Wales
Van Reemst

Berkien, G. / Wales
Kosmos-Z&K

Berkien, G. / Wales
Kosmos-Z&K

Danse, W. / Midden-Engeland en Wales
ANWB

Fröhlich, D. / Wales
Deltas

Hendriksen, B. / Wales
Van Reemst

Hestler, A. / Wales
Marshall Cavendish

King, J. / Wales
Lonely Planet

Westphal, U. / Wales
Van Reemst

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated April 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info