Cardiff — Welsh Capital★★
Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff (Caerdydd in Welsh) has been the capital of Wales since 1955 — a compact, vibrant city that has transformed from an industrial coal port to a dynamic cultural metropolis in recent decades.
The highlights:
- Cardiff Castle — In the heart of the city: a castle that combines Roman, Norman, and Victorian excess. The opulent rooms, decorated in the fantasy Gothic style by the eccentric Marquess of Bute in the 19th century, are so lavish they would be kitschy — if they weren't so breathtaking. The Arab ceiling in the Arab Room and the golden murals are unique
- Principality Stadium (Millennium Stadium) — The national stadium with its retractable roof dominates the cityscape. Rugby is a religion in Wales, and experiencing a Six Nations match (February/March) here is electrifying. Stadium tour: £15
- Cardiff Bay — The former Tiger Bay docks (once one of the busiest coal ports in the world) are now a modern waterfront district: the Wales Millennium Centre (opera, theater), the Norwegian Church (where Roald Dahl was baptized!), and waterfront restaurants
- National Museum Cardiff — Free! The most impressive collection of Impressionists outside Paris (Renoir, Monet, Cézanne) and an excellent Welsh archaeology department
