Dolwyddelan Castle

Dolwyddelan Castle crowns a mountain pass in Conwy, Wales, strategically designed by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth between 1210 and 1240 to defend a vital east-west route through the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Captured by Edward I's English forces on 18 January 1283 during the final conquest of Wales, the castle underwent modifications including a second storey to the keep and a new drawbridge entrance. The fortress underwent restoration between 1848 and 1850 and was placed in state care in 1930, now managed by Cadw. The castle remains a testament to medieval Welsh military architecture, standing prominently in the Snowdonia landscape and commanding views across the mountain valleys.