[Reading level: C2 – Mastery]
Few European attractions pop up more often on postcards and in Instagram posts than its castles.
But the best place for serious castle spotters may come as a surprise. It’s not France’s’s Loire or Germany’s Bavaria. The true epicenter is Wales, which features more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe.
From the northern mountains of Snowdonia to Swansea Bay in the south, castles that could have dropped out of Camelot shoot up everywhere. Why the density? Blame it partly on Wales’ history as a contested territory. Fighting over turf, the Normans, the native Welsh, and the English, led by expansionist Edward I, all erected epic fortresses in an explosion of castle building that dominated the 13th and 14th centuries.
The sheer number of Welsh castles is matched by their variety. “For a small country,” says historian Kate Roberts, “we have just about every type and form, including concentric castles with moated defenses, castles with gigantic well-fortified gatehouses, castles that make every possible use of natural defenses, and castles designed to be beautiful luxurious residences.”


History in stone
That vast range of castles suggests just how profoundly the fortresses reflect Wales’ tumultuous, always shifting history. Take Chepstow Castle, which crowns a cliff overlooking the River Wye. The 11th-century stronghold started life as one of the first Norman command posts constructed by William FitzOsbern, a close ally of William the Conqueror. But it was its subsequent commander, William Marshall, who turned the homely castle into a formidable Norman fortress, building the first twin-towered gatehouse in Britain.
The castle did double duty. It also served as the repository for the gold and silver collected by Marshall. Chepstow’s most striking attraction is its massive timber doors – the oldest in Europe – which were originally sheathed in iron plates to both repel invaders and keep Marshall’s plundered treasures safe.
Carreg Cennen in south Wales stands on a lofty rocky crag and offers another regional history lesson. “The castle’s Lord Rhys,” says Roberts, “enjoyed a long and successful reign as a prince, expanding his territory across southwest Wales and gaining the respect of his contemporaries, including Henry II. But his later life was beset with family strife as his sons vied for supremacy and he actually ended up imprisoned by them” – suggesting the choppy fortunes of even the most astute warrior prince.
Castell y Bere, atop a remote outcrop in a Snowdownia valley, is a prime example of a Welsh castle constructed by a native Welsh prince, the formidable Llywelyn the Great. Although the native princes couldn’t command the architectural resources and craftsmen readily available to the English king, the 13th-century fortress, built to protect Llywelyn’s southern frontier, stood strong.
“In spite of additions made by Edward I after he captured the stronghold in 1283, the castle is fundamentally a Welsh princely castle,” says historian Bill Zajac, “and it displays a number of characteristic features, including two D-shaped towers.” While the Anglo-Norman knights designed their fortresses as a treasure house for their collected loot, Llywelyn was more concerned with guarding his cattle range, which symbolized real medieval currency for the native aristocracy.
If Castell y Bere represents a classic Welsh fortress, Conwy Castle is the stellar example of the much more opulent castles erected by King Edward. The king offered master mason James of Saint George a hefty budget to erect a circle of high towers, curtain walls, a monumental central hall, and massive battlements.
“It’s one of the most complete medieval town circuits in the world,” Roberts notes, allowing for a view of Snowdonia’s jagged mountains and the still largely medieval town of Conwy below.” Despite spending an enormous amount of money on the castle and town walls, Edward I only managed to stay there once: When the local Welsh rebelled in 1284, he passed a very sad and boozy Christmas in the castle, comforted by a single barrel of wine.

From stronghold to stately home
Over time the Welsh castles changed shape. As the internecine wars died down, they slowly evolved from primarily stony fortresses and command posts to stately homes flush with some of Wales’ finest art and most flamboyant treasures, nestled in elaborate gardens.
Raglan Castle is a prime example of the shift. “The older parts of the castle,” says Roberts, “extend back to the 13th and 14th centuries but what visitors see today mostly dates from the 15th century, when Raglan had become a grand manorial home, boasting sumptuous apartments surrounding a fountain court. Late additions in the 16th century included a conversion into a magnificent Elizabethan country house, surrounded by garden terraces and a lake.” An army of fanciful gargoyles and heraldic carvings frame the castle courtyards, testimony to the artistic flourishes that began to gild the original fortresses.
Caerphilly Castle represents another example of an endlessly evolving fortress. This 13th-century behemoth in south Wales, erected by the Norman baron Gilbert the Red to block the advance of a Welsh prince, was meant to be imposing, and it succeeds. It is second only to Windsor Castle as the largest in Britain.
A model fortress, it relied on a series of concentric fortifications, three drawbridges, and five sets of double gates to repel invaders. But when the castle, reduced to ruin after the English civil war, passed into the hands of the marquesses of Bute, in the late 18th century, the fortress was refitted as a very courtly manor.
Among the renovations overseen by successive marquesses over the next two centuries was a magnificently carved wooden ceiling in the great hall and a series of rich moldings framing the windows. Today its duck-filled lake and hunting park are a purely aesthetic castle-lover’s dream.
Powis Castle, on a prominent rock near the English border, is another medieval fortress that was reinvented as an artistic showcase when it became home to the aristocratic Clive family in the 19th century. Taking pride of place among the castle’s collection is the rich range of artifacts Robert Clive and his son Edward hauled back from India as their colonial spoils, including an entire, intact sultan’s ceremonial tent.
There is something for everyone crowded into the castle’s galleries: hand-woven tapestries, baroque furniture, a Joshua Reynolds portrait of Lady Henrietta Clive, and a prized Roman marble figure of a cat wrestling a snake. The show continues outside, in the 25-acre terraced Italo-French gardens that frame the castle. The lush landscape features clipped yews and formal flower plots all punctuated by a whimsical orangery.
Treasure houses
In some cases, more recent Welsh castles were conceived, from the start, as grand pleasure houses. Penrhyn Castle, a mock neo-Norman structure bristling with jutting towers and battlements, may look like a fortress. But it never saw any military action.
The current iteration was built in the early 19th century for a mega-wealthy north Wales mine owner as a kind of fantasia of a medieval fortress. It was specifically designed to house a master class of curated art. Containing one of Wales’ finest collections of paintings, it features everything from Dutch 17th-century landscapes to Spanish portraits and Venetian masterworks, including a Canaletto canvas depicting the Grand Canal. A formal walled garden adds to the artistic overflow.
Castell Coch, yet another designed as an artwork in itself, is more grand folly than bona fide castle. The 19th-century “Red Castle” was erected on the site of an 11th-century Norman fortress in high Gothic revival style by the wealthy Lord Bute. Since money for the south Wales country retreat was unlimited, architect William Burges went to work with exuberance.
The result – a favorite of wedding parties and film crews – is a storybook castle, complete with conical towers and a romantic drawbridge. The fanciful interiors follow suit: Vaulted ceilings come carved – why not? – with fluttering butterflies. “My favorite room,” says Roberts, “is the drawing room with its beautiful murals based on Aesop’s Fables. This is a 19th-century version of the middle ages, a riot of color and fantasy.”
There is one other feature of Welsh castles that adds to their allure. If they evoke both Wales’ roiling history and its evolving sense of artistry, they also allow a view of the country’s natural beauty. Typically situated on high ground, as impenetrable defensive lookouts, they often offer stellar views of Wales’ backroads, rivers, valleys, and mountains. Rhuddlan Castle sits above a stretch of the River Clwyd. Harlech Castle perches above a nearly vertical sea wall, overlooking the dunes below and backed by Snowdonia’s peaks. And telegenic Kidwelly Castle – featured in the opening scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – is located near the mouth of the River Gwendraeth Fach.
Part of the local landscape now, these stalwart castles are emblems of a Wales that kept changing shape, but that can now, finally and very happily, live in peace.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/this-country-has-the-most-castles-in-europe?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=facebook::cmp=editorial::add=fbt20220726travel-resurftravelwelshcastles&linkId=174740826
WORD BANK:
WORD BANK:
pop up (PhrV): xuất hiện
temporarily /ˈtem.pə.rer.əl.i/ [B2] (adv): tạm thời
epicenter /ˈep.ə.sen.t̬ɚ/ (n): tâm điểm
feature /ˈfiː.tʃɚ/ [B2] (v): có
density /ˈden.sə.t̬i/ [C1] (n): sự dày đặc
contest /ˈkɑn·test/ (v): tranh chấp
territory /ˈter.ə.tɔːr.i/ [B2] (n): lãnh thổ
turf /tɜːf/ (n): láng giềng
expansionist /ɪkˈspæn.ʃən.ɪst/ (n): người theo chủ nghĩa bành trướng
erect /ɪˈrekt/ (v): xây dựng
epic /ˈep.ɪk/ (adj): hoành tráng
fortress /ˈfɔː.trəs/ (n); pháo đài
explosion /ɪkˈsploʊ.ʒən/ [B2] (n): sự bùng nổ
dominate /ˈdɑː.mə.neɪt/ [B2] (v): thống trị
sheer /ʃɪr/ [C1] (adj): chỉ là, tuyệt đối
concentric /kənˈsen.trɪk/ (adj): đồng tâm
moated /ˈməʊ.tɪd/ (adj): có hào bao quanh
gigantic /ˌdʒaɪˈɡæn.tɪk/ (adj): khổng lồ
fortified /ˈfɔr·t̬əˌfɑɪd/ (adj): kiên cố
luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊr.i.əs/ [C1] (adj): sang trọng
residence /ˈrez.ə.dəns/ [C2] (n): dinh thự
vast /væst/ [B2] (adj): rộng lớn
profoundly /prəˈfaʊnd.li/ [C2] (adv): sâu sắc
tumultuous /tʃuːˈmʌl.tʃu.əs/ (adj): biến động
shifting /ʃɪft/ (adj): thay đổi
crown /kraʊn/ (v): nằm trên đỉnh
command /kəˈmænd/ [C2] (n): chỉ huy
construct /kənˈstrʌkt/ [B2] (v): xây dựng
ally /ˈæl.aɪ/ [C2] (n): đồng minh
subsequent /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/ [C1] (adj): sau đó
formidable /fɔːrˈmɪd.ə.bəl/ [C2] (adj): đáng gờm
repository /rɪˈpɒz.ɪ.tər.i/ (n): kho
striking /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ/ [B2] (adj): nổi bật
massive /ˈmæs.ɪv/ [B2] (adj): khổng lồ
timber /ˈtɪm.bɚ/ [C2] (n): gỗ
sheath /ʃiːθ/ (v): bọc
repel /rɪˈpel/ (v): đẩy lùi (xâm lược, cuộc tấn công…)
plunder /ˈplʌn.dər/ (v): cướp
treasure /ˈtreʒ.ɚ/ [B2] (n): kho báu
lofty /ˈlɒf.ti/ (adj): cao chót vót
reign /reɪn/ [C2] (n): sự trị vì
contemporary /kənˈtem.pər.ər.i/ [B2] (n): người đương thời
beset /bɪˈset/ (v): bủa vây
strife /straɪf/ (n): sự xung đột
vie with sb for sth (v): tranh giành cái gì với ai
supremacy /suːˈprem.ə.si/ (n): quyền lực tối cao
imprison /ɪmˈprɪz.ən/ [C1] (v): bỏ tù
choppy /ˈtʃɒp.i/ (adj): sóng gió
astute /əˈstʃuːt/ (adj): tinh ranh
warrior /ˈwɔːr.i.ɚ/ [C1] (n): chiến binh
outcrop /ˈaʊt.krɒp/ (n): mỏm đất
prime /praɪm/ [C2] (adj): điển hình
frontier /ˈfrʌn.tɪər/ [C2] (n): biên giới
capture /ˈkæp.tʃər/ (v): chiếm
fundamentally /ˌfʌn.dəˈmen.t̬əl.i/ [C2] (adv): cơ bản
characteristic /ˌkær.ək.təˈrɪs.tɪk/ [C2] (adj): đặc trưng
knight /naɪt/ (n): hiệp sĩ
loot /luːt/ (n): chiến lợi phẩm
concerned /kənˈsɝːnd/ [B2] (adj): quan tâm
symbolize /ˈsɪm.bəl.aɪz/ (v): tượng trưng
medieval /ˌmed.ˈiː.vəl/ [[B2] (adj): thời trung cổ
aristocracy /ˌær.ɪˈstɒk.rə.si/ (n): tầng lớp quý tộc
represent /ˌrep.rɪˈzent/ [C2] (v): đại diện
stellar /ˈstel.ər/ (adj): chính, quan trọng
opulent /ˈɒp.jə.lənt/ (adj): sang trọng
mason /ˈmeɪ.sən/ (n): kiến trúc sư, thợ xây
hefty /ˈhef.ti/ (adj): lớn, khổng lồ
budget /ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/ [B2] (n): khoản ngân sách
curtain wall (n): hệ vách
monumental /ˌmɒn.jəˈmen.təl/ (adj): đồ sộ, hoành tráng
battlements /ˈbæt.əl.mənts/ (n): trận địa
jagged /ˈdʒæɡ.ɪd/ (adj): lởm chởm
rebel /rɪˈbel/ [B2] (v): nổi dậy
boozy /ˈbuː.zi/ (adj): say khướt
barrel /ˈbær.əl/ (n): thùng
internecine war (n): cuộc chiến giết hại lẫn nhau
evolve /ɪˈvɒlv/ [C1] (v): phát triển
stately /ˈsteɪt.li/ (adj): trang nghiêm
flamboyant /flæmˈbɔɪ.ənt/ (adj): chói lóa
nestle /ˈnes.əl/ (v): ẩn mình
elaborate /iˈlæb.ɚ.ət/ [C2] (adj): công phu
manorial /mə’nɔ:riəl/ (n): trang viên
boast /bəʊst/ (v): tự hào
sumptuous /ˈsʌmp.tʃu.əs/ (adj): xa hoa
conversion /kənˈvɝː.ʒən/ [C2] (n): sự chuyển đổi
magnificent /mæɡˈnɪf.ɪ.sənt/ [B1] (adj): tráng lệ
fanciful /ˈfæn.sɪ.fəl/ (adj): huyền ảo, tưởng tượng
gargoyle /ˈɡɑː.ɡɔɪl/ (n): miệng máng xối
heraldic /herˈæl.dɪk/ (n): huy hiệu
testimony /ˈtes.tɪ.mən.i/ (n): minh chứng
flourish /ˈflʌr.ɪʃ/ (n): sự khởi sắc
gild /ɡɪld/ (v): tô điểm
behemoth /bɪˈhiː.mɒθ/ (n): vật gì đó khổng lồ
baron /ˈbær.ən/ (n): nam tước
imposing /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/ (adj): oai nghiêm, bệ vệ
rely on/upon sb/sth [B2] (PhrV): dựa vào ai/cái gì
fortification /ˌfɔː.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (n): tường thành
drawbridge /ˈdrɔː.brɪdʒ/ (n): cầu rút
civil war /ˌsɪv.əl ˈwɔːr/ (n): nội chiến
marquess /ˈmɑː.kwɪs/ (n): hầu tước
refit /ˌriːˈfɪt/ (v): sửa lại
courtly /ˈkɔːt.li/ (adj): lịch sự
renovation /ˌren.əˈveɪ.ʃən/ [C1] (n): cải tạo
successive /səkˈses.ɪv/ [C2] (adj): kế nhiệm
aesthetic /esˈθet.ɪk/ (adj): thẩm mỹ
prominent /ˈprɑː.mə.nənt/ [C1] (adj): nổi bật
artifact /ˈɑː.tə.fækt/ (n): đồ tạo tác
tapestry /ˈtæp.ɪ.stri/ (n): tấm thảm
portrait /ˈpɔː.trət/ [B2] (n): chân dung
marble/ˈmɑː.bəl/ (n): đá cẩm thạch
wrest /rest/ (v): vật lộn, đánh nhau
lush /lʌʃ/ (adj): tốt tươi
clip /klɪp/ (v): cắt tỉa
yew /juː/ (n): cây thủy tùng
punctuate /ˈpʌŋk.tʃuː.eɪt/ (v): chấm phá, nhấn mạnh
whimsical /ˈwɪm.zɪ.kəl/ (adj): kỳ dị
orangery (n): vườn cam
intact /ɪnˈtækt/ [C2] (adj): nguyên vẹn
conceive /kənˈsiːv/ [C2] (v): hình thành
bristle with sth /ˈbrɪs.əl/ (v): đầy ắp cái gì
jutting/ˈdʒʌt.ɪŋ/ (adj): nhô ra
fantasia /fænˈteɪ.zi.ə/ (n): sự tưởng tượng
curated art (n): giám tuyển nghệ thuật
depict /dɪˈpɪkt/ [C2] (v): mô tả
bona fide /ˌbəʊ.nə ˈfaɪ.di/ (adj): chân chính, không gian dối
revival /rɪˈvaɪ.vəl/ [C2] (n): sự phục hưng
retreat /rɪˈtriːt/ [C2] (n): sự rút lui
conical /ˈkɒn.ɪ.kəl/ (adj): hình nón
interior /ɪnˈtɪə.ri.ər/ [B2] (n): nội thất
vaulted /ˈvɒl.tɪd/ (adj): hình vòm
flutter /ˈflʌt.ər/ (v): vẫy cánh, rung rinh
mural /ˈmjʊə.rəl/ (n): tranh tường
fable /ˈfeɪ.bəl/ (n): truyện ngụ ngôn
riot /ˈraɪ.ət/ [C1] (n): sự hỗn loạn
allure /əˈljʊər/ (n): vẻ quyến rũ
impenetrable /ɪmˈpen.ɪ.trə.bəl/ (adj): không thể xuyên thủng
dune /dʒuːn/ (n): cồn cát
telegenic /ˌtel.ɪˈdʒen.ɪk/ (adj): ăn ảnh
stalwart /ˈstɔːl.wət/ (adj): kiên cố
emblem /ˈem.bləm/ (n): biểu tượng
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