Welsh Castle Quiz

Question #4

"I'm located a bit off the beaten track and therefore many people overlook me in favor of my more famous English neighbor to the North. That's a real shame because seated high in my chair, I am found in a region of outstanding beauty that overlooks a strategic route into north Wales. I was built by princes and coveted by kings before my final fall. What castle am I and can you explain my riddle?"

Castell Y Bere rests in the shadow of a mountain formation known as "Cader Idris" (Idris' chair) in wild and beautiful southern Snowdonia. Built by Llywelyn the Great and strengthened by his grandson, Llywelyn the Last, Castell y Bere was larger and more complex than other castles built by the princes of Wales. Perched high on it's outcropping of rock, the castle guarded an important pass into north Wales. Bere was a primary military target for King Edward I and his army during the second Welsh War of Independence in 1282/83. Following its capture the castle was garrisoned for a time by the English, but was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin.

The approach to Bere is via a minor road and the walk to the castle takes a few minutes (off the beaten path). Many tourists bypass Bere in favor of the more popular English-built castle of Harlech to the north (Bere's English neighbor), however those who do so miss experiencing what the true castles of Wales are all about. In fact, many would argue that Castell y Bere commands the most stunning vistas in all of Wales, and those who have visited the site and this part of Wales will further testify to the region's special magic. Castle y Bere should be on everyone's "castles-not-to-miss" list!

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