Wales is offering visitors free access to dozens of historic sites this September as Cadw’s annual Open Doors festival returns, with several of the country’s most important medieval castles, abbeys and ecclesiastical sites taking part.
Held throughout September, Open Doors brings together heritage organisations, community groups, museums, archives, places of worship and volunteers across Wales. Hundreds of locations will participate, including sites that are normally closed to visitors or offering areas and tours that are not usually available to the public.
The festival is organised and funded by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, and forms Wales’ contribution to European Heritage Days. Among Cadw’s own monuments participating this year are Strata Florida Abbey, Harlech Castle and several other medieval sites.
“Open Doors is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Wales’ extraordinary heritage and the passionate people who care for it,” said Dr Ffion Reynolds, Cadw’s Senior Heritage Events and Arts Manager. “This year’s programme includes unique behind-the-scenes experiences, guided tours and access to places that are rarely open to the public. We’re particularly excited to welcome visitors to parts of the historic Mynachlog Fawr farmstead at Strata Florida, offering a rare opportunity to explore an important part of Wales’ heritage as part of this year’s festival.”
Medieval abbeys and ecclesiastical sites
Neath Abbey – photo courtesy Cadw
One of the first medieval sites to participate will be Neath Abbey, in South Wales, which will offer extended guided tours on 5 and 6 September. Founded in 1130, the abbey developed into one of the region’s major monastic houses. The tours will examine the surviving ruins and their connections with several important episodes in Welsh history, including the Norman expansion into South Wales and the dissolution of the monasteries.
Later in the month, visitors will be able to explore Strata Florida Abbey in Ceredigion, one of the most significant medieval religious sites in Wales. Free guided tours will be held on 25 and 26 September. The Cistercian abbey had close connections with the Princes of Deheubarth and became an important religious and cultural centre in medieval Wales. The Open Doors tours will examine the monastery’s foundation, its Cistercian community and its wider history.
Visitors who pre-book will also have a particularly unusual opportunity to enter the ground floor of the historic Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse, which is not normally open to the public. The tours will explain current plans to conserve and transform the wider farmstead.
Another major medieval ecclesiastical site taking part is St Davids Bishop’s Palace, which will be open on 26 and 27 September. The palace served as the principal state residence of the medieval Bishops of St David’s, with its elaborate architecture reflecting the wealth and status enjoyed by the medieval church. Guided tours will provide a closer look at the palace and its history.
Free entry to medieval castles
North curtain wall of the castle from the gardens at Laugharne Castle – photo coutesy Cadw“
Several Welsh castles are also participating in Open Doors, including Laugharne Castle, which will offer free access on 19 and 20 September.
The site developed as a medieval castle before being transformed into a Tudor mansion. Its long history therefore provides evidence of changing approaches to elite residences and fortifications from the Middle Ages into the early modern period.
In North Wales, Denbigh Castle will open free of charge on 19 and 20 September. Constructed as part of Edward I’s campaigns in Wales, Denbigh became one of the major fortresses associated with the English king’s network of castles.
Visitors will be able to explore the castle’s surviving medieval defences, including its distinctive triple-towered gatehouse and curtain walls. Guided tours, talks, workshops and family activities will also take place over the weekend.
Harlech Castle, another of Edward I’s great medieval fortresses, is among the 19 Cadw monuments participating in this year’s festival, with special Open Doors tours also scheduled during September.
Archives preserve medieval Welsh history
Ruthin Gaol – photo courtesy Cadw
Open Doors will also give visitors opportunities to see medieval records that are normally kept behind the scenes.
On 12 September, Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff will offer tours of a facility containing more than 12 kilometres of records dating from the 12th century to the present day. Visitors will be able to see original documents and learn how centuries of records relating to south-east Wales are stored and preserved.
North East Wales Archives at Ruthin Gaol will similarly provide access to its archive stores on 12 September. Although the archive itself is housed in a former Victorian prison, its collections extend much further back, with documents dating to the 12th century.
Other Open Doors locations range from historic houses and museums to archaeological sites and Cold War structures. The festival runs throughout September, although dates, opening hours and booking requirements vary by site. A complete programme of participating locations and information about advance booking is available through Cadw’s Open Doors website.
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Wales is offering visitors free access to dozens of historic sites this September as Cadw’s annual Open Doors festival returns, with several of the country’s most important medieval castles, abbeys and ecclesiastical sites taking part.
Held throughout September, Open Doors brings together heritage organisations, community groups, museums, archives, places of worship and volunteers across Wales. Hundreds of locations will participate, including sites that are normally closed to visitors or offering areas and tours that are not usually available to the public.
The festival is organised and funded by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, and forms Wales’ contribution to European Heritage Days. Among Cadw’s own monuments participating this year are Strata Florida Abbey, Harlech Castle and several other medieval sites.
“Open Doors is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Wales’ extraordinary heritage and the passionate people who care for it,” said Dr Ffion Reynolds, Cadw’s Senior Heritage Events and Arts Manager. “This year’s programme includes unique behind-the-scenes experiences, guided tours and access to places that are rarely open to the public. We’re particularly excited to welcome visitors to parts of the historic Mynachlog Fawr farmstead at Strata Florida, offering a rare opportunity to explore an important part of Wales’ heritage as part of this year’s festival.”
Medieval abbeys and ecclesiastical sites
One of the first medieval sites to participate will be Neath Abbey, in South Wales, which will offer extended guided tours on 5 and 6 September. Founded in 1130, the abbey developed into one of the region’s major monastic houses. The tours will examine the surviving ruins and their connections with several important episodes in Welsh history, including the Norman expansion into South Wales and the dissolution of the monasteries.
Later in the month, visitors will be able to explore Strata Florida Abbey in Ceredigion, one of the most significant medieval religious sites in Wales. Free guided tours will be held on 25 and 26 September. The Cistercian abbey had close connections with the Princes of Deheubarth and became an important religious and cultural centre in medieval Wales. The Open Doors tours will examine the monastery’s foundation, its Cistercian community and its wider history.
Visitors who pre-book will also have a particularly unusual opportunity to enter the ground floor of the historic Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse, which is not normally open to the public. The tours will explain current plans to conserve and transform the wider farmstead.
Another major medieval ecclesiastical site taking part is St Davids Bishop’s Palace, which will be open on 26 and 27 September. The palace served as the principal state residence of the medieval Bishops of St David’s, with its elaborate architecture reflecting the wealth and status enjoyed by the medieval church. Guided tours will provide a closer look at the palace and its history.
Free entry to medieval castles
Several Welsh castles are also participating in Open Doors, including Laugharne Castle, which will offer free access on 19 and 20 September.
The site developed as a medieval castle before being transformed into a Tudor mansion. Its long history therefore provides evidence of changing approaches to elite residences and fortifications from the Middle Ages into the early modern period.
In North Wales, Denbigh Castle will open free of charge on 19 and 20 September. Constructed as part of Edward I’s campaigns in Wales, Denbigh became one of the major fortresses associated with the English king’s network of castles.
Visitors will be able to explore the castle’s surviving medieval defences, including its distinctive triple-towered gatehouse and curtain walls. Guided tours, talks, workshops and family activities will also take place over the weekend.
Harlech Castle, another of Edward I’s great medieval fortresses, is among the 19 Cadw monuments participating in this year’s festival, with special Open Doors tours also scheduled during September.
Archives preserve medieval Welsh history
Open Doors will also give visitors opportunities to see medieval records that are normally kept behind the scenes.
On 12 September, Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff will offer tours of a facility containing more than 12 kilometres of records dating from the 12th century to the present day. Visitors will be able to see original documents and learn how centuries of records relating to south-east Wales are stored and preserved.
North East Wales Archives at Ruthin Gaol will similarly provide access to its archive stores on 12 September. Although the archive itself is housed in a former Victorian prison, its collections extend much further back, with documents dating to the 12th century.
Other Open Doors locations range from historic houses and museums to archaeological sites and Cold War structures. The festival runs throughout September, although dates, opening hours and booking requirements vary by site. A complete programme of participating locations and information about advance booking is available through Cadw’s Open Doors website.
Top Image: Harlech Castle – photo by Medievalists.net
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