Croeso i Gaerdydd, Prifddinas Cymru!
Welcome to Cardiff, Capital of Wales!
Europe's youngest Capital City, Cardiff, has been the Capital City of Wales since 1955. Founded by the Romans, influenced by the Normans, Cardiff exploded onto the world map in the 1800s with the Industrial Revolution. The spark for the Industrial Revolution took place in Blaenavon, now a World Heritage Site. The production of iron and coal in the South Wales Valleys lead to Cardiff being one of the largest exporters of coal worldwide and helped it to earn and enhance the reputation of Wales as 'The King of Coal' and Cardiff as 'The Coal Exporting Capital of the World'!
Cardiff's Civic Centre  
Join us on a drive and walk through the green heart of Cardiff and enjoy the history, geography and architecture of this vibrant and dynamic Capital City.
Cardiff Bay 
Cardiff Bay offers the visitor to the Welsh Capital a glimpse into Cardiff's historical past, present and future.
See the shipping headquarters, once used by the founding family of Cardiff - The Butes, now alongside the modern iconic Wales Millennium Centre, which has captured the imagination of the Welsh people and is recognised on an international stage.
The state of the art Welsh Assembly Government building, Y Senydd, is situated in a prime position on the waterfront. Y Senedd is completely transparent at the public level, a testament to the Welsh Government's philosophy of openness and transparency.
A short walk will allow us to become familiar with features such as:
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The Norwegian Church;
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Cardiff Bay Barrage;
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Mermaid Quay;
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Y Senydd;
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Wales Millennium Centre;
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Cardiff Bay's Public Art
within the unique setting, which is Cardiff Bay.
Castell Coch
Once a ruined 13th Century fortress, Castell Coch is an extravagent, medieval, gothic fantasy and a romantic folly. Designed and built by the eccentric genius William Burgess, who also transformed Cardiff Castle in Victorian times into a gothic fairytale fantasy. The reconstruction of Castell Coch was financed by his wealthy patron, the shy and scholarly Third Marquis of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, one of the richest men in the world.
Caerphilly Castle
The road from Castell Coch takes us across Caerphilly Mountain, where your guide will take you on a short walk to enjoy the fantastic views overlooking the whole of Cardiff, a panoramic view of the South Wales Coast, combined with stunning views of The Valleys and The Brecon Beacon National Park.
We drive to Caerphilly Castle, the second largest castle in Britain. Built in the late 13th century, the fortress is a supreme example of the  concentric 'walls within walls' system of defence. Also the castle's outstanding water defences made it almost impregnable to siege warfare.
Particularly noteworthy features include the gatehouse, banqueting hall and full-size working replicas of medieval siege-engines. Often threatened but, unsurprisingly, never taken, the castle's only sign of weakness is its famous leaning tower (which out-leans the tower at Pisa), possibly caused by subsidence.
St. Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life 
A late afternoon is spent at St. Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life.
In this open-air museum you will discover how the people of Wales have lived, worked and spent their leisure time, over the last five hundred years, visiting a wide variety of buildings including: chapels, churches, farmhouses, miners' cottages, a workman's institute and a post war prefabricated house.
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