Wales > The Cardiff Castle

The last day has already arrived. After breakfast, I walk back to Cardiff Castle. The castle was built in 1091 on the remains of an old fortress. Over the following centuries, the castle was expanded. One of the most striking transformations took place in 1868. By order of the Marquess of Bute, the castle was rebuilt in a Neo-Gothic style. At the ticket office, it turns out that no audio tours are available. We are therefore given a ten percent discount.

Wales - The fortified mansion within the castle walls

The young man at the desk advises downloading an app, where all the information can also be found. The app first leads me to an exhibition about the armed forces throughout the years. A little further on, I view a passage in the castle wall. During the Second World War, this space offered shelter for the residents of Cardiff. In total, it could accommodate 1,800 people. At the northern gate, it is easy to see how the restoration was carried out. A red line on the wall indicates which parts are original. Beyond that, there is little remaining. At exactly twelve o’clock, I gather by the clock tower.

Wales - The interior of the mansion of Cardiff Castle

Here, the tour of the Victorian mansion begins. In a humorous way, the guide explains the various decorated rooms. It is almost unimaginable that the Marquess of Bute only stayed in this castle for a few weeks each year. Around one o’clock, I leave the castle and walk through Cardiff’s shopping street for the last time. At the Yard Pub, I order a sandwich and a beer—a nice ending to a pleasant weekend. At the hotel, the taxi is already waiting. In half an hour, the driver takes me back to the airport. With a slight delay, the KLM Cityhopper takes off for Amsterdam. I watch Cardiff shrink beneath me. By 7:30 p.m., I am back on Dutch soil, and an hour later, I am home again.