Conwy Castle, North Wales

Conwy Castle and town are surrounded by a well-preserved
wall lending an additional sense of strength to the site.
Construction of Conwy began in 1283. The castle was an important
part of King Edward I's plan of surrounding Wales in "an iron ring of
castles" to subdue the rebellious population. The highly defensible wall
Edward built around the town was intended to protect the English colony
planted at Conwy. The native Welsh population were violently opposed to
English occupation of their homeland.

Conwy is incomparably the most magnificent of Edward I's Welsh fortresses.
Conceived and created in just 4 years, it remains on of the most outstanding
achievements of medieval military architecture. From the eight huge rounded
mountains and sea and down to the roofless shell of the castle. Conwy's other
great glory, its ring of town walls. Conwy is the classic walled town. Its circuit
of walls, over one and a quarter kilometers long and guarded by no less than
21 towers and three towered gateways, is one of the finest in the world.