- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1295 · 13th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Wales, United Kingdom
- Architect
- James of Saint George
- Heritage
- part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an old town or a valley, for example)
- Coordinates
- 53.2649°, -4.0896°
History
Beaumaris was the last and largest of the castles Edward I built in north Wales. Work began in 1295, after the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn had been put down, under the Savoyard master mason James of St George, who also built Conwy and Caernarfon. Its concentric plan, with one ring of walls inside another and a moat around both, is regarded as one of the most perfect in Europe. Building stopped around 1330 for lack of money, however, so the towers and inner walls never reached their intended height. In 1986 the castle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with Edward I's other castles in Gwynedd.
What to see
The visit begins at the Gate next the Sea, beside the old dock where supply ships could tie up. The inner ward is ringed by massive towers and two gatehouses, and one of the towers holds a small chapel with a Gothic vault. Passages within the thickness of the walls and stretches of wall-walk give views over the Menai Strait and the mountains of Snowdonia.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q756815
Popularity: articles about this site in 37 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).