Dolbadarn Castle (Wales)

Dolbadarn Castle is a fortification built by the Prince of Wales Llywelyn in the early 13th century at the base of Llanberis Pass in North Wales. The castle was important both militarily and symbolically in terms of Llywelyn's power and authority. It has a large stone that historian Richard Avent considers "the best surviving example of the Welsh Round Tower". In 1284, Dolbadarn was taken over by Edward I of England, who took part of his timbers to build his Caernarfon castle in Caernarfon. The castle was used as a residence for a few years, before falling into disrepair. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was a popular destination for painters interested in sublime philosophy and picturesque landscapes. It is owned by Cadw and operated as a tourist attraction, listed as Grade I protected buildings.

1220–40
The castle was built between 1220 and 1230 by Llywelyn the Great, at the base of Llanberis Pass, overlooking the Loch of Llyn Padarn. Traditionally, the Princes of Wales had not built castles, instead using defenseless constructions called llysoedd, or courtyards. By the 11th century, the Normans had begun to invade Wales, occupying lands to the north and establishing a strip of occupied territory to the south, the so-called Welsh Marches. During the 12th century some castles of wood and mud were built, but they were not numerous.

The castle's location was important because it controlled a major mountain pass and perhaps because Llywelyn claimed authority as Lord of the Welsh mountains and coasts - many of his castles appear to have been singled out as a political symbol in mind. Llywelyn may have built his castle atop the remains of an earlier fortification built by Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of Gwynedd in the 6th century, although no remains have been found.

From the 14th to the 21st century

The remaining parts of the castle continued to be used as a residence in the fourteenth century. Dolbadarn Castle fell into disrepair and remained uninhabited in the 18th century, however, from 1760 onwards it became a popular subject for painters interested in landscape styles in vogue at the time of sublime philosophy and the picturesque. Typically, the castle was painted in the middle ground, allowing the eye of the beholder to contrast its ruins with Snowdonia's lakes and mountains; often the landscape was not actually represented by the artists, to create a stronger dramatic effect. JMW Turner's work of 1802 shows the castle in the landscape and it became famous, but the castle painting by Richard Wilson and Paul Sandby also represent important works of art during this period.

In 1941, the castle was donated to the state by Sir Michael Duff. It is maintained by Cadw and protected on the Building List as a Monument of Interest. In view of Welsh devotion and other political changes, the history of Dolbadarn Castle and other similar Welsh castles has become prominent. In response, Cadw noted that they intend to give a higher priority to communicating the history of these castles and the Princes of Wales.

[Source: Wikipedia]