Harlech Castle is a remarkable example of medieval fortress architecture in Britain at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. This monumental stronghold was built on a steep, almost inaccessible cliff overlooking the Irish Sea. Thanks to its formidable design and strategic location, Harlech Castle remained a key stronghold in north-west Wales for centuries.
Today, I’d like to take you on a journey to this awe-inspiring place, where Harlech Castle still stands proudly, and share with you the fascinating stories and history of the people connected to it.
Harlech Castle and its history
Harlech Castle is not the first fortress in Wales we’ve written about. Earlier, we explored Chepstow Castle, perched above the River Wye on the border with England, near Bristol and also Coch Castle. Like all the other defensive strongholds built across Wales during this period, Harlech Castle was constructed to demonstrate England’s military might and to enforce control over the conquered lands.
The castle’s construction began after King Edward I of England launched his Welsh campaign. The campaign started in the spring of 1282, and within just a few months the English knights broke through the resistance of their long-time rivals, pressing deeper into the heart of Wales. Though the defenders fought fiercely, with every passing week they were pushed further west. To secure his hold over the newly subdued territories, Edward ordered the building of a network of castles and fortresses. One of them is the main character of today’s story – Harlech Castle. In total, several fortresses were built, forming a defensive network later known as the Iron Ring.
Welsh Iron Ring
The term Iron Ring refers to the chain of castles built by Edward I of England, also known as Edward Longshanks. These strongholds, each manned with English garrisons, were designed to provide support during the many uprisings and rebellions of the Welsh nobility and common folk.
Among the mightiest fortresses of the Iron Ring were Flint, Conwy, Harlech, Caernarfon, and Beaumaris. Today, only ten of these once-formidable strongholds survive, standing as a reminder of the turbulent history that once shook Wales.
Harlech Castle in Welsh hands
The English had such unwavering faith in the mighty stone walls of their castles that they often neglected to properly equip them. Harlech was no exception. So, when the forces of Prince Owain Glyndŵr laid siege to the fortress during one of Wales’s greatest uprisings, the defenders found themselves woefully unprepared.
Imagine standing inside those towering walls, knowing the armory held only a handful of battered spears—some with broken tips—two swords, eight helmets, a few armored gloves, and just three or four crossbows. A garrison of only a few men faced the full force of a determined Welsh army. And yet, thanks to Harlech’s sheer position on its steep, rocky perch, the castle defied its attackers for months.
At last, with provisions dwindling and no hope of relief, the defenders struck a desperate bargain: their lives in exchange for the fortress. In 1404, Harlech Castle was claimed by the Welsh. For a few brief, glorious years, these ancient halls became the beating heart of Wales. Leaders gathered here to plan campaigns, the Welsh parliament convened within its chambers, and decisions that shaped the nation’s fate echoed off its stone walls.
But history is seldom kind for long. English forces returned, bringing with them terrifying new weapons of war—massive bombards whose thunder shook the land. Imagine the roar of stone projectiles smashing into the walls, the dust, the chaos, the slow crumbling of a fortress once thought unassailable. Harlech held as long as it could, but the relentless cannon fire tore both walls and spirit apart, and once again the castle fell back into English hands.
Harlech Castle during the Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses – a brutal English civil war fought between 1455 and 1485 – pitted two of the most powerful dynasties in the land against each other: the Lancasters and the Yorks. The conflict takes its name from the symbols of these rival houses: the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York.
Its spark was lit by the fragile health of King Henry VI and the birth of his heir. The Yorks, who stood to inherit the throne should the king remain without a son, claimed that the newborn was no true prince at all, but a bastard born of Queen Margaret of Anjou’s alleged affair. The accusation set England ablaze with strife.
Far from the heart of London, Harlech Castle became a refuge for the loyal supporters of Lancaster. The Yorkist army encircled the fortress, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary: a siege that lasted seven relentless years. Imagine the isolation, the endless wait on those windswept cliffs, as the garrison held firm against overwhelming odds.
What saved them was the ingenuity of Harlech’s medieval builders. Hidden beneath the castle, carved directly into the rock, lay a secret stairway leading all the way down to the sea. Through this lifeline, supplies of water, food, and weapons reached the besieged defenders. It was a daring feat of survival, and their resistance became the stuff of legend.
Songs and stories were woven around their courage, the most famous of which is Men of Harlech. This stirring ballad, born of the defenders’ defiance, has endured through the centuries. Even today, it is sung with pride as an unofficial anthem of Wales—and roars through the stadiums whenever the Welsh rugby team takes to the field.
As a fascinating side note, the Wars of the Roses—often remembered as the bloodiest civil conflict ever fought on English soil—did not end with either Lancaster or York in triumph. Instead, a third power rose to claim the crown: the Tudors. It’s a perfect example of the old saying, “When two fight, a third takes the prize.”
The turning point came at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. There, King Richard III was struck down in the chaos of combat. Legend has it that, moments before his death, he cried out the immortal words: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” His fall ended the long dynastic struggle, and Henry Tudor seized the throne as Henry VII.
Historians mark the Battle of Bosworth as more than just the Tudors’ rise to power—it is typically considered the event that closed the chapter on the Middle Ages in England, ushering in a new era of kings, queens, and a kingdom forever changed.
Harlech Castle construction and site
Harlech Castle may not be the largest or most powerful of Wales’s fortresses, yet it is still hailed today as a shining example of the incredible military expertise of medieval castle builders. To understand why, all you need to do is look at its breathtaking setting. The stronghold rises high on a sheer cliff, with steep, craggy slopes protecting it on three sides. The only real approach lies to the east, where a formidable gatehouse and a rock-hewn moat guard the entrance.
Step inside, and you’ll find walls more than three meters thick, built from massive stones so perfectly fitted together that they have withstood centuries of storms and sieges. At the heart of the fortress lies the inner courtyard, stretching forty-seven meters long and more than fifty meters wide—a space once alive with soldiers, servants, and the daily rhythm of medieval life.
Each corner of the walls is anchored by a massive round tower, ten meters across, looming like stone sentinels. True to medieval tradition, the towers were given names: the Debtors’ Tower, Mortimer’s Tower, Bronwen’s Tower, and the Armourer’s Tower. Their very names seem to whisper forgotten tales of the people who once walked these halls.
For an extra layer of defense, the builders added a lower, outer wall around the castle. Though smaller and less imposing than the main ramparts, it was more than enough to fend off minor raids. And here comes a curious detail: perched along this wall were small turret-like structures that doubled as latrines. The waste that ran down the walls created a foul, slippery barrier—one more reason for enemies to think twice before attempting to climb them!
Harlech Castle and its main gate
As I mentioned earlier, the main entrance to Harlech Castle lies on the eastern side of the fortress. To reach it, attackers would have to cross a drawbridge spanning a rock-hewn moat—a daunting first obstacle. Beyond the bridge, two smaller towers once loomed, supporting the bridge itself and flanked by heavy double gates that could be slammed shut instantly.
But that was just the beginning. Behind these towers stood two massive defensive keeps, built to withstand the fiercest assaults. The space between them was a deadly gauntlet of gates, iron portcullises, and hidden grates embedded within the thick stone walls. Every detail of the castle’s design was intended to repel invaders, making Harlech a fortress that could not be taken by force alone.
Harlech Castle today
Harlech Castle played its last major role during the English Civil War in 1647, a fierce struggle between Parliamentarians and Royalists. After a long and grueling siege, the castle fell to the Parliamentarian forces. Following its capture, a decision was made to level the fortress to the ground as a warning to enemies and future generations. Fortunately, the order was never fully carried out, and today we can still marvel at this remarkable military monument.
Despite the turbulent history that threatened to erase it from the map, Harlech has survived the centuries and become one of Wales’s most iconic landmarks. When it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, it was described as the finest example of early 14th-century military architecture in all of Europe.
Of course, not every part of the castle has survived intact. Much of its interior furnishings are gone, and the outer defensive walls have slowly succumbed to time and the harsh Welsh weather. Yet for anyone fortunate enough to journey to the wild, breathtaking landscapes of northwest Wales, Harlech Castle is an absolute must-see—a fortress whose stones still echo the legends, battles, and bravery of centuries past.
Harlech Castle information, address, how to get there, ticket prices and opening hours
Below we have collected some information that will help you explore the castle and its surroundings.
Samku address in Harlech
Harlech Castle, Snowdonia National Park, Harlech, Gwynedd LL46 2YH, United Kingdom.
Opening Hours
- From April 6 to June 30 and from September 1 to October 31, the castle is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- From July 1 to August 31, the castle is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- From November 1 to February 28, the castle is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Ticket Prices
Ceny biletów na zamek w Harlech zmieniają się w zależności od pory roku.
- For most of the year, the price of an adult ticket is £6.90, and for children under 17, £4.85.
- Admission to the castle is free from April 6th to 25th.
- From April 26th to May 23rd, the price of an adult ticket is £2.10, and for children under 17, £1.45.
- Children under five years of age enter the castle free of charge year-round.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Site Entry Tickets. Tickets for many other nearby attractions are also available on the same website.
Other information
- The use of drones is prohibited within the castle grounds.
- The castle has a gift shop and a small restaurant.
- Smoking is not permitted within the castle.
- Dogs are welcome, provided they are handled with care and proper supervision.
- Restaurants are available within the castle.
- The facility is accessible to people with disabilities.
Harlech Castle facts and trivia
- The castle was opened in 1290 after just seven years of construction, an impressively short time considering its size and location.
- The construction cost was 8190 pounds sterling at the time. This was about ten percent of what the English spent on all the castles in Wales.
- Nearly a thousand workers and craftsmen from across England participated in the construction.
- The architect, James of St. George, was responsible for the castle’s construction.
- John de Bonvillars became the first commander of the English garrison stationed in Harlech.
- The castle’s initial garrison consisted of just under forty men. The castle’s main defense force consisted of ten crossbowmen. In addition, the keep also housed a blacksmith, a carpenter, a stonemason, and several other men essential to the castle’s operation.
- The castle, intended to be an impregnable fortress, fell to Welsh rebels and became their headquarters. To retake it, the English had to bombard the castle walls for a long time, almost destroying them.
- The castle played a significant role in two civil wars.
- In 1986, Harlech Castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. At the same time, Beaumaris, Conwy, and Caernarfon Castles were also added to the list.
- When the castle was built, the high cliff on which it stands plunged directly into the sea. Today, the seashore is over a kilometre away.
- The castle was built in a concentric, quadrilateral layout.
- The castle’s interior, protected by thick walls. Inside, among other things, were built a royal residence, an audience chamber, a chapel, and barracks.
- Harlech Castle was part of the defensive network known as the Iron Ring, which encircled north-west Wales.
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