Set at the top of rocky headland overlooking Cardigan Bay, Criccieth Castle is the most striking of the fortresses built by the native Welsh prices. Its inner defences domanated by a powerful twin-towered gatehouse, are the work of Llywelyn the Great , who strove to make Wales a unified independent nation.

They incorporated the latest developments in medieval military architecture and to build them Llyweln may have summond expert masons familiar with the newest fortresses of his English baronial rivals. His grandson Llywelyn the Last, strengthened the castle with outer defences and, after Llywelyn's death in battle in 1282, the English kings Edward I and Edward II refurbished it again, adapting a tower to mount a catapult or stone-throwing "engine".

Criccieth's nearness to the sea saved it during a long Welsh siege in 1294-5, allowing supplies - including new shoes for the garrison - to be brought in by ship. However, when Owain Glyndwr attacked in 1404, their seaborne French allies cut off relief and the castle was so thoroughly sacked that its walls even now bear the marks of burning.

Never re-occupied since, its imposing ruins became a favourite with Romantic artists: they form a dramatic backdrop for Turner's famous paintings of storm wrecked mariners. Thorough excavation, conservation and detective work have now revealed the full extent of this imposing monument to native Welsh castle-building.