Welsh Castles

Pembroke - Dyfed

Pembroke Castle became a powerful medieval fortress late in the 12th century, and is one of the largest castles in Wales. Pembroke's enormous round keep is one of the largest in Wales and is topped with a stone dome.

This castle's massive walls are nearly 20 feet thick and it's towers rise five stories high. During a Civil War siege Cromwell unsuccessfully tried to destroy the Barbican Tower. Much of the castles other structures, however, were heavily damaged.

Pembroke has a medieval dungeon tower that includes an "oubliette." This horror was simply a hole in the ground, where prisoners were abandoned to die.