Welsh heritage sites to open for free on St David’s Day

Many of Wales’s heritage sites are to open up for free this St David’s Day (1 March 2016), as visitors are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy Cadw sites across the country without charge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A total of 14 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly Castle will also host a duo of special events to celebrate the Patron Saint’s day, from a Welsh Craft Fair, to an evening concert featuring poetry reading from the works of Dylan Thomas and Roald Dahl, and traditional Welsh songs from the delightful Aber Valley Male Voice Choir. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “Wales is a country teeming with fascinating heritage, from its historic buildings to its iconic stories. It is extremely important that we ensure our heritage sites are accessible to everyone inside and outside of Wales to explore and enjoy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By opening sites for free, we’re able to give people across Wales the chance to explore their local monuments and learn more about their heritage in honour of our Patron Saint.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The following sites, which normally charge for admission, can be entered for free on Tuesday 1 March 2016: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Beaumaris Castle
• Caernarfon Castle
• Caerphilly Castle
• Carreg Cennen Castle
• Castell Coch
• Chepstow Castle
• Conwy Castle
• Dolwyddelan Castle
• Harlech Castle
• Raglan Castle
• St Davids Bishop’s Palace
• Tintern Abbey
• Weobley Castle
• Blaenavon Ironworks ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​