Young city has plenty to offer
 

Young city has plenty to offer

09-23-2011 06:01 AM

Published:
Fri, 2011-09-23 13:56


Young city has plenty to offer


Heather Joy


feature_story_photo:
http://uk.stripes.com/sites/default/...difffour_0.jpg Heather Joy






Young city has plenty to offer

Heather Joy

Pack your woolies for a winter visit to the Welsh capital of Cardiff. This young city has a diverse selection of sites for visitors to discover and experience.
Explore over 2000 years of history at the impressive Cardiff Castle that was once a Roman garrison, a Norman stronghold and in the 17th –century home to the Bute family. Take a guided tour of the grand apartments with gilt ceilings and murals or brave the chill and walk the battlements to the north gate and Norman Keep. Visit the newly opened Interpretation Centre for more on the castles history.
To the left of the castle are Bute Gardens complete with a walled parapet that hosts life-like stone animals including a bear, lion and monkey. Be sure not to forget your camera as the gardens offer tourists brilliant and picture worthy views of the castle and its moat.
Next visit the National Museum Cardiff housed in an impressive domed building it houses several collections covering art, archeology, natural history and geology. The museum houses one of the largest collections of impressionist paintings in Europe with works by Renoir and Monet thanks to the donation of two wealthy Welsh sisters.
Rugby fans may want to visit Europe’s largest covered stadium, Millennium Stadium and take a guided tour of the facility which includes a visit to the home changing room of the Welsh National rugby team, the players’ tunnel and onto the pitch. If you plan your trip well you may be able to take in a concert under the stadium’s retractable roof.
Tourists that prefer more classical entertainment can enjoy opera, ballet, modern dance and musicals at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay only a mile from the city center.
Cardiff Bay once a rundown dockland is now host to many restaurants, bars and shops and throughout the year there are many festivals and events that take place. Be sure to visit the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre known as the Tube for obvious reasons you will understand when you see it. Its position in the center of the waterfront offers panoramic views of the bay.
Sitting on the outskirts of town is Castell Coch a romantic round towered castle with red turrets nestled in the woods. According to the castles Web site it was built for the Third Marquis of Bute, who was rumored to be the richest man in the world during his day.
For a unique adventure travel a little ways out of Cardiff to Blaenafon to the Big Pit National Coal Museum. The Big Pit is a real coal mine where tourists can descend 300 feet underground with a real miner as a guide and learn more about the life of the coal miner.





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