Free Entry For Everyone Into Cadw Sites On St David’s Day

Many of Wales’s heritage sites are to open up for free this St David’s Day (1 March 2017), as visitors are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy Cadw sites across the country without charge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To begin Visit Wales’ Year of Legends, a total of 17 sites will open their doors as part of the programme — including the spectacular St Davids Bishop’s Palace, located near the site Saint David himself founded his monastery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From the exceptional Conwy Castle to the oldest surviving stone castle in Wales, Chepstow Castle, visitors can have legendary days out at a number of our sites for free to celebrate St David himself. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “From historic buildings to iconic sites, Wales is a country full of fascinating heritage and legendary monuments and what better way to celebrate St David’s Day then by making them even more accessible. On March 1 we are offering free entry to all at various key sites across Wales so that everyone can explore and enjoy our important national heritage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In honour of our Patron Saint, visitors will be able to begin their own legendary journey into our past to uncover the stories in our castles, abbeys and other historic sites.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cadw also has over 100 unstaffed monuments open for free all year across Wales — from spectacular ecclesiastical ruins like Neath Abbey, once home to Cistercian monks, to strategic coastal strongholds like Flint Castle, famed for its role as site of Richard II’s downfall in Shakespeare’s play of the same name. Visitors are welcome to explore these sites all year round — find a site near you at cadw.gov.wales/daysout. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​