Castell Coch

Castell Coch is a castle in the SXIX reconstructed by William Burges, the architect who designed the nearby Cardiff Castle on an earlier one from the middle ages. The exterior is constructed to look like a real medieval castle, with a drawbridge, and a moat surrounding the castle ... Inside the castle, the decor is baroque as it was a castle used as a summer residence by one of the most influential families. Although there are lots of trains and buses from Cardiff, the most interesting way to get to the castle is a path-cycle path for both pedestrians, bikes and horses called Taff Trail (it runs along the River Taff) that can be caught from Cardiff Bay or a little later, from Bute Park.

For lovers of fairy tale castles, Castle Coch (Red Castle) is a must. Close to Cardiff, the Welsh capital, it sits in a typically European forest, dark and hazy and with a real gothic air. Construction began in the thirteenth century and its external appearance is medieval, with turrets and battlements. The interior, however, is Victorian Gothic. This anachronistic contrast is what gives it a unique feeling, distinguishing it from the other castles dotted around Wales. The rooms are wonderful, with elegant wallpaper and regal furniture. It's been used as a location for films including The Scarlet Pimpernel and Robin Hood, among others.