The tiny city of St Davids boasts not only one of Britian's finest cathedrals, but also the most impressive medieval palace in Wales.

This palace owes its magnificence to Bishop Henry of Gower, greatest of the medieval bishop of St Davids and an astoundingly energetic builder. Not content with major works in his cathedral and elsewhere, between 1328 and 1347 he rebuilt his principal residence on the grandest of scales, employing a unique scheme of decoration to give it a spendid unity.

Ranged round an imposing courtyard, the palace possesses two complete sets of state rooms, one of the bishop's own use and the other for ceremonious entertainment.

The palace was built in the elaborate "Decorated" style of Gothic architecture, the palace is lavishly encrusted with fine carving in purple stone, probably the work of craftsmen from the Bristol area. It most striking features are the multi-arched parapets which crowns its wall-tops,surmounted by chequerboard facades of purple, green and white stone blocks.