Cardiff Castle (Wales)

In the heart of the capital is Cardiff Castle, a truly remarkable site with a long history over 2000 years. Roman soldiers slept here, noble knights held court here, and the Bute family, with extraordinary wealth and vision, transformed the castle into a romantic Victorian fantasy. 'Eccentric genius' architect William Burges was given free rein to create sumptuous interiors and incredibly opulent; each stunning room filled with frescoes, stained glass, gilding and superb craftsmanship. Recent developments include the opening of Wartime shelters, a re-creation evocative of a bygone era, when the Castle tunnels have been used as a place of refuge during the bombings of World War II.