Spoil yourselves - exploring the past
Everybody knows that there are more castles per square mile in Wales than in any other European country. What many people are not aware of is that Southern Wales can lay claim to a vast number of them, from the huge, awe-inspiring structures at Raglan and Caerphilly, to the intimate strength of Ogmore and Coity.
It's not just castles though, as Southern Wales has a fascinating history that includes the Celts, the Romans, the Normans, the Stuarts and the industrial legacy of the Victorian and Edwardian ages. In fact Wales was the world's first industrial nation - it all started here in Southern Wales! Recognition of the area's importance can be seen with the recent designation of The Blaenavon World Heritage Site.
Today, the same valleys and mountains that echoed with the noise of blast furnaces, iron works and coal mines are covered with woodland areas that make this part of Wales so stunning, but our inheritance of history has been carefully preserved for all to see and admire; in fact here in Wales, we value these so much that we have designated many of them as National treasures, collectively known as the National Museums of Wales. We have the National Mining Museum at Big Pit, The National History Museum at St. Fagans and the National Museum and Gallery at Cathays Park in Cardiff.
We invite you to lose yourselves in the splendour, the drama, the tradition and the wealth of Southern Wales' past.
Information
For further information on spoiling yourselves in Southern Wales
Email: history@southernwales4u.org.uk
Telephone:
029 2088 0011 quoting SN01
Did You Know?
The mayday message from the Titanic was receieved at Gelligroes Mill, Blackwood, although no one beleived Arthur Moore who picked up the SOS transmission on his homemade radio receiver.
Tel: 354355
Church Tourism
There are many important religious buildings and sites in Southern Wales, from the shrine of Our Lady in Penrhys to the simple church at Vaynor where Iron Magnate Richard Crawshay lies beneath a 10 ton tomb stone bearing the inscritpion 'God forgive me'. Contact the Churches Tourism Network for more information.
Get your Exploring the Past brochure ....
For a listing in chronological order of many of the historic sites in Southern Wales from pre history burial chambers to Industrial Revolution at the beginning of the 20th Century email us as below with a request for an Exploring the Past Brochure
This
project is supported by the 10 Local Authorities ofSouth East Wales and Capital Region Tourism