Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom

Hay Castle is a medieval fortification and 17th-century mansion house in the small town of Hay-on-Wye, Wales. Originally constructed as part of the Norman invasion of Wales, the castle was designed as a ringwork overlooking the town in either the late-11th or early-12th centuries. It was rebuilt in stone around 1200 by the de Braose family and then had a turbulent history, being attacked and burnt several times during the First and Second Barons' Wars, the wars with the Welsh princes, the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr and the Wars of the Roses.

In the 17th century a Jacobean mansion house was built alongside the medieval keep and the property became a private home. Serious fires in 1939 and 1977 gutted the castle and, despite repairs in the 1980s, by the 21st century much of the building was derelict and unstable. Since 2011 it has been owned by the Hay Castle Trust who plan to renovate the property to form an arts and education centre.

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User Reviews

Maud Haugland (10 months ago)
Really good views over the town! And interesting exhibitions although it didn't really have much to do with the castle itself

Naveen Vidyadharan (10 months ago)
We came from Cardiff on a day trip to visit Hay Castle, and it was absolutely worth it. The castle grounds are beautifully maintained and even feature an enchanting outdoor book section, making it a perfect spot for book lovers. It's also a lovely location for photos, with plenty of historic buildings showcasing great architecture. Parking in the town car park was easy, making the visit hassle-free. Overall, Hay Castle is a delightful destination, especially for those who appreciate history and literature.

Toby Hefford (13 months ago)
Great little castle, bargin for £5 entry. Plenty to see and learn about its history, love the idea of the sort film at the start to give you a introduction to the castle, fantastic staff greeting you at the door and explaining how to tour the castle. Good cafe with a nice shop..

Carlyn Gough-Ley (13 months ago)
Nice little place, not huge, but nicely set out and lovely views. Small gift shop and a nice looking cafe. Staff all friendly a d welcoming.

Sarah Lorraine (13 months ago)
Lovely visit to the castle today. While it may not be the biggest or most exciting of landmarks, we enjoyed our time. The gift shop is filled with some hidden gems. Although we didn’t eat at the cafe, rumour has it the food is amazing and the ambiance is even better. The grounds were lovely and included an outdoor book section. Staff were more than friendly!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

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The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

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