Wales has 600+ recorded castles and fortified sites, ranging from Roman legionary fortresses to medieval princely strongholds, Edwardian royal castles, marcher fortresses, town walls, and later defended manor houses.

Below is a comprehensive regional list for North Wales first, including Roman forts and fortifications, followed by the principal medieval castles and town walls.

🛡️ NORTH WALES

🏛️ Roman Forts & Fortifications (North Wales)

Deva Victrix
Major legionary fortress (modern Chester, just across today’s border but key to North Wales control).

Segontium
Important Roman fort overlooking the Menai Strait (AD 77).

Canovium
Roman auxiliary fort guarding inland routes.

Branodunum (Tomen y Mur)
Roman fort and amphitheatre remains in Snowdonia.

Varis (St Asaph)
Probable Roman fort site.

Canovium (Caerhun)
Fort controlling Conwy Valley (often simply called Caerhun Roman Fort).

🏰 Edward I’s Castles (“Iron Ring”)

Built after the conquest of Wales (late 13th century) by Edward I of England.

Caernarfon Castle
Massive polygonal towers; UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Conwy Castle
Exceptionally preserved fortress with town walls.

Harlech Castle
Dramatic clifftop stronghold.

Beaumaris Castle
Perfect example of concentric castle design.

🏰 Native Welsh Princes’ Castles (Pre-Edwardian)

Dolwyddelan Castle
Linked to Llywelyn the Great.

Castell y Bere
Mountain stronghold of the princes of Gwynedd.

Dolbadarn Castle
Strategic round tower fortress.

Ewloe Castle
Welsh-built woodland castle.

🏰 Marcher & Norman Castles (North Wales)

Flint Castle
First of Edward’s North Wales castles (1277).

Rhuddlan Castle
Strategic river fortress.

Denbigh Castle
Large walled fortress above the town.

Chirk Castle
Still inhabited; later adapted as stately home.

Holt Castle
Now largely ruined; once key border fortress.

Ruthin Castle
Later converted into a manor and hotel.

🏰 Town Walls & Fortified Settlements

Conwy Town Walls
Nearly complete medieval town walls.

Caernarfon Town Walls
Integrated with the castle defences.

📊 NORTH WALES SUMMARY

• Roman forts: ~10 known sites (major listed above)

• Major medieval castles: 20+

• UNESCO World Heritage castles: 4

• Total fortified sites (including earthworks & minor motte castles): 150+

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• 🛡️ Mid Wales – full list (Roman + Welsh + Norman)

• 🏰 South Wales – very large section (over 200 castles & sites)

Below is a comprehensive list of castles and Roman fortifications in Mid Wales (primarily Powys and Ceredigion), including Roman military sites, native Welsh princely castles, and Norman/Marcher strongholds.

Mid Wales has fewer large stone castles than North or South Wales, but it has many earthwork mottes, ringworks, and strategic frontier fortresses.

🏛️ ROMAN FORTS – MID WALES

Mid Wales was heavily militarised during the Roman conquest of the Ordovices tribe.

Caersws Roman Fort (Mediolanum)

Important Roman auxiliary fort controlling central Wales and road junctions.

Cefn Caer

Recently confirmed large Roman fort; significant military site.

Tomen y Mur

Roman fort and amphitheatre remains (sometimes geographically grouped with Mid Wales depending on boundary definitions).

Llanio Roman Fort (Bremia)

Important Roman cavalry fort near Llanddewi Brefi.

Pen y Gaer

Smaller Roman fort guarding coastal routes.

🏰 NATIVE WELSH PRINCES’ CASTLES (Mid Wales)

Built largely by the princes of Powys and Deheubarth.

Castell y Bere

(Politically linked to Mid Wales though geographically near the boundary.) Fortress of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

Carreg Cennen Castle

Dramatic cliff-top Welsh stronghold (later rebuilt by Normans).

Dinas Brân

Ruined hilltop fortress with earlier Welsh origins.

Cefnllys Castle

Contested frontier fortress between Welsh princes and Marcher lords.

🏰 NORMAN / MARCHER CASTLES – MID WALES

Mid Wales formed a volatile border zone between Norman Marcher lords and Welsh princes.

POWYS

Montgomery Castle
Stone fortress overlooking the Severn Valley.

Dolforwyn Castle
Built by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; later captured by Edward I.

Powis Castle
Originally medieval fortress; later transformed into a stately home.

Newtown Motte and Bailey
Earthwork remains of Norman fortification.

Llanidloes Motte
Small Norman earthwork castle.

CEREDIGION

Aberystwyth Castle
Edwardian stone castle on the coast.

Cardigan Castle
Originally Norman; later rebuilt in stone.

Ystrad Meurig Motte
Earthwork castle remains.

Lampeter Castle
Small Norman motte site.

🏰 Smaller Motte-and-Bailey & Earthwork Sites (Representative List)

Mid Wales contains dozens of minor mottes, many now low earthworks. Notable examples include:

• Knucklas Castle

• Castle Ring (Llanfyllin)

• Blaenllynfi Castle

• Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch

📊 MID WALES SUMMARY

• Roman forts: 5–8 significant sites

• Major stone castles: ~10

• Motte-and-bailey / earthwork castles: 40+

• Key pattern: Frontier warfare between Welsh princes and Marcher lords

Mid Wales is less monumental than North Wales but historically crucial as a contested border region.

• 🏰 South Wales – complete and largest section (very extensive)

South Wales contains the highest concentration of castles in Britain — especially Norman and Marcher fortresses built to control the Welsh Marches and coastal trade routes.

Below is a comprehensive regional list, including Roman fortifications, Welsh-built strongholds, Norman/Marcher castles, Edwardian works, fortified manor houses, and town walls.

🏛️ ROMAN FORTS & FORTRESSES – SOUTH WALES

South Wales was heavily militarised after the Roman conquest (1st century AD).

Isca Augusta

Major legionary fortress (Legio II Augusta), one of the best-preserved Roman military sites in Britain.

Cardiff Roman Fort

Roman coastal fort later incorporated into Cardiff Castle.

Loughor Roman Fort

Auxiliary fort guarding the River Loughor crossing.

Neath Roman Fort

Early Roman fort later replaced by Norman Neath Castle.

Bremia Roman Fort

(Linked culturally to South/Mid Wales military network.)

🏰 EARLY WELSH & NATIVE STRONGHOLDS

Dinas Powys Hillfort

Post-Roman fortified royal site.

Carreg Cennen Castle

Spectacular cliff-top fortress of Welsh origin, later Norman rebuilt.

Dryslwyn Castle

Stronghold of the princes of Deheubarth.

Newcastle Emlyn Castle

Welsh-built castle later strengthened in stone.

🏰 MAJOR NORMAN & MARCHER CASTLES (GLAMORGAN)

Glamorgan was the most heavily fortified region in Wales.

Cardiff Castle

Roman origins; Norman keep; later Victorian Gothic mansion.

Caerphilly Castle

Second-largest castle in Britain; famous concentric defences and leaning tower.

Castell Coch

Romantic 19th-century Gothic Revival reconstruction on medieval foundations.

Ogmore Castle

Riverside Norman stronghold.

Coity Castle

Well-preserved fortified residence.

Newcastle Castle

Hilltop Norman stone castle.

Kenfig Castle

Ruined castle buried partly by sand dunes.

Fonmon Castle

Fortified manor continuously inhabited.

St Donat's Castle

Medieval castle later restored; now Atlantic College.

Penmark Castle

Small Norman defensive tower.

🏰 GWENT & MONMOUTHSHIRE CASTLES

Chepstow Castle

Oldest surviving post-Roman stone castle in Britain.

Raglan Castle

Late medieval fortress-palace with massive Great Tower.

Caldicot Castle

Large enclosure castle with intact walls.

Usk Castle

Norman castle overlooking River Usk.

Skenfrith Castle

Part of the “Three Castles”.

White Castle

Strong concentric fortress.

Grosmont Castle

The third of the “Three Castles”.

Abergavenny Castle

Norman castle with museum.

🏰 PEMBROKESHIRE CASTLES

Pembrokeshire is known as “Little England beyond Wales” due to Norman settlement.

Pembroke Castle

Birthplace of Henry VII; massive cylindrical keep.

Manorbier Castle

Well-preserved coastal fortress.

Carew Castle

Norman castle with later Tudor mansion features.

Tenby Castle

Clifftop remains overlooking harbour.

Haverfordwest Castle

Large ruined fortress above town.

Wiston Castle

Classic motte-and-bailey earthwork.

🏰 CARMARTHENSHIRE CASTLES

Carmarthen Castle

Important Norman administrative centre.

Kidwelly Castle

Impressive concentric castle overlooking estuary.

Laugharne Castle

Later fortified mansion.

Llandovery Castle

Welsh border fortress repeatedly attacked.

🏰 SWANSEA & NEATH PORT TALBOT

Swansea Castle

Town-centre Norman castle.

Oystermouth Castle

Well-preserved Gower fortress.

Weobley Castle

Fortified manor house.

Neath Castle

Norman castle near earlier Roman fort.

📊 SOUTH WALES SUMMARY

• Roman military sites: 5+ major forts

• Major Norman/Marcher stone castles: 50+

• Motte-and-bailey & earthwork sites: 100+

• Densest concentration: Glamorgan & Monmouthshire

• Largest castle in Wales: Caerphilly

• Oldest major stone castle: Chepstow

South Wales alone contains well over 200 fortified sites, making it the most castle-dense region in Wales.