Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle is a medieval castle built in the 13th century on the order of the magnate Gilbert de Clare, currently the second largest (after Windsor Castle) facility of this type in Great Britain. The fortress covers a total area of 12 hectares, and its walls are surrounded by an artificial lake. In 1284, Wales lost its independence, and thus Caerphilly Castle lost its military significance only 13 years after the construction was completed. Currently, it is open to the public, preserved ruins.

The castle attraction is one of the towers inclined at a greater angle than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is the result of the decision of the British Parliament, which in the 17th century ordered the demolition of some of the ruined castles, including Caerphilly Castle. The attempt to blow up one of the towers ended in the creation of the '' Welsh Leaning Tower '', tilted 10 degrees from the vertical. According to legend, you can meet the Green Lady - the ghost of the first, unfaithful wife of Gilbert de Clare, who died of love after the death of a lover, a man Gruffudda the Fair.

Members of the de Clare family lived in Caerphilly until the 15th century, and finally left it in 1486. Since then, the castle gradually fell into ruin. Part of the walls, including several towers, collapsed and the lake around the fortress dried up. From complete devastation, the castle of the Marquis Bute, John Crichton-Stuart (1847-1900) - an eccentric scientist and industrialist, who in 1860 was considered the richest man in the world. He financed the renovation of many historic buildings, including a thorough reconstruction of Caerphilly Castle.