A striking new piece of street art outside Cardiff Central Station is turning heads—and turning back the clock. Created by world-renowned chalk artist Julian Beever, the 3D artwork is an optical illusion that reveals a hidden slice of Welsh medieval history: the water-gate passageway at Caerphilly Castle.
Commissioned by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, the installation celebrates the recent reopening of this once-concealed feature. The medieval water-gate, which links Caerphilly Castle’s Great Hall to its southern lake, has been hidden from public view for centuries. Now, as part of an £8 million regeneration project, it’s accessible once more—both at the site itself and in a visually arresting way on the streets of Cardiff.
Photo courtesy Cadw
“It’s been brilliant to see so many people stop, stare, and realise they’re literally standing on history,” said Beever. “The water gate has always been there, just beneath people’s feet, so creating a piece of art that opens up the ground felt like the perfect way to reveal something that was hidden in plain sight all along.”
The regeneration project at Caerphilly Castle includes more than just the water-gate. The site now boasts a refurbished Great Hall, new accessible facilities, and interactive exhibits designed to immerse visitors in the castle’s medieval past.
“There’s more than one side to history, and more than one way for people to interpret and enjoy it,” said Gwilym Hughes, Head of Cadw. “This magnificent piece of art does just that—it re-imagines and brings to life a scene at the water gate to help people envision how it may have once looked.
“Breathing new life into Wales’s heritage isn’t just about restoring old walls, it’s about opening doors to stories old and new, welcoming visitors from near and far, and captivating future generations.”
Photo courtesy Cadw
The street art is part of a broader campaign to invite people to visit Caerphilly Castle during the summer holidays and experience the medieval site in a new light. Visitors can explore the updated exhibits that focus on the lives of the people—men, women, and children—who lived and worked in the fortress across the centuries.
The artwork will remain in Cardiff Central Square until Monday, 4th August, before relocating to Caerphilly Town Centre until Thursday, 7th August. After that, it will move into the castle grounds on Friday, 8th August.
A second chalk installation is also planned for Caernarfon, appearing on the Maes on Saturday, 9th August, and then moving inside Caernarfon Castle on Tuesday, 12th August.
Whether on city streets or inside castle walls, these artworks offer a new and visually imaginative way to engage with medieval Welsh history—an invitation to look down and see the past revealed beneath your feet.
A striking new piece of street art outside Cardiff Central Station is turning heads—and turning back the clock. Created by world-renowned chalk artist Julian Beever, the 3D artwork is an optical illusion that reveals a hidden slice of Welsh medieval history: the water-gate passageway at Caerphilly Castle.
Commissioned by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, the installation celebrates the recent reopening of this once-concealed feature. The medieval water-gate, which links Caerphilly Castle’s Great Hall to its southern lake, has been hidden from public view for centuries. Now, as part of an £8 million regeneration project, it’s accessible once more—both at the site itself and in a visually arresting way on the streets of Cardiff.
“It’s been brilliant to see so many people stop, stare, and realise they’re literally standing on history,” said Beever. “The water gate has always been there, just beneath people’s feet, so creating a piece of art that opens up the ground felt like the perfect way to reveal something that was hidden in plain sight all along.”
The regeneration project at Caerphilly Castle includes more than just the water-gate. The site now boasts a refurbished Great Hall, new accessible facilities, and interactive exhibits designed to immerse visitors in the castle’s medieval past.
“There’s more than one side to history, and more than one way for people to interpret and enjoy it,” said Gwilym Hughes, Head of Cadw. “This magnificent piece of art does just that—it re-imagines and brings to life a scene at the water gate to help people envision how it may have once looked.
“Breathing new life into Wales’s heritage isn’t just about restoring old walls, it’s about opening doors to stories old and new, welcoming visitors from near and far, and captivating future generations.”
The street art is part of a broader campaign to invite people to visit Caerphilly Castle during the summer holidays and experience the medieval site in a new light. Visitors can explore the updated exhibits that focus on the lives of the people—men, women, and children—who lived and worked in the fortress across the centuries.
The artwork will remain in Cardiff Central Square until Monday, 4th August, before relocating to Caerphilly Town Centre until Thursday, 7th August. After that, it will move into the castle grounds on Friday, 8th August.
A second chalk installation is also planned for Caernarfon, appearing on the Maes on Saturday, 9th August, and then moving inside Caernarfon Castle on Tuesday, 12th August.
Whether on city streets or inside castle walls, these artworks offer a new and visually imaginative way to engage with medieval Welsh history—an invitation to look down and see the past revealed beneath your feet.
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