Llandovery Castle crowns a rocky hillock above the Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire, Wales, commanding views of the confluence of the Afon Brân and Afon Gwydderig rivers. Originally built by Norman lord Richard Fitz Pons in 1110, this Grade II*-listed ruin played a pivotal role in the power struggles between Norman, English and Welsh forces throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. Visitors can explore the remains of its distinctive D-shaped tower, twin-towered gatehouse and domestic buildings. In 1401, Llewelyn ap Gruffudd Fychan was executed here during Welsh uprisings, marking one of the castle's darkest chapters. Today freely accessible year-round, the castle offers a captivating window into medieval Welsh history and military architecture.
