Heritage & History

Tintern Abbey, Tintern

Standing on the banks of the River Wye in the pretty village of Tintern, it's hard to imagine a more tranquil setting for one our biggest historical attracions.  The abbey was built in the 12^th century by an order of Cistercian monks who lived in there for 400 years.

Llancaiach Fawr, Nelson
Step back in time, as far back as 1645 in fact.  Welcome to Llancaiach Fawr Manor, a house belonging to Colonel Pritchard at the height of the civil war.  His servants will be there to welcome you to show you around the house and tell you tales of life in the 17^th century.

Rhondda Heritage Park
Discover the story of black gold as you explore one of the area's finest mining museum.  The Rhondda Heritage Park is based on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery and visitors can get a taste of what life was like underground with a tour in the company of an ex-miner.

Tredegar House, Newport
Tredegar House is located on the outskirts of Newport.  The mansion dates from the 17^th century and is one of the most important manor houses in Wales.  Now owned by the National Trust, the house is set in 90 acres of beautiful parkland.

Roman Town, Caerleon
Hard to believe that the small town of Caerleon, a short drive from Newport, was once one of the most important towns in the Roman Empire.  The legacy of this time can still be seen today as the town still has the remains of its amphitheatre, barracks and baths.  There's also a museum telling the story of the area.

Llanyrafon Manor, Cwmbran
Llanyrafon Manor has stood on the banks of the River Llwyd in Cwmbran since the middle of the 16^th century.  It was owned by a number of wealthy land owners and farmers through the ages before falling into disrepair.  Now renovated and restored to its former glory the manor is now a popular Rural Heritage Centre.

Transporter Bridge, Newport
Suspended in a gondola, 242 feet below the gantry and high above its muddy waters, crossing the River Usk at Newport has never been so much fun.  The century old Transporter Bridge is one of only eight bridges of this type remaining anywhere in the world.  Built to allow ships to sail up the river, the bridge's imposing towers are a well known landmark on the Newport skyline.

Bedwellty House, Tredegar
Completely restored and renovated, Bedwellty House is a fine example of a regency villa that was once the grand home of the Master of Tredegar Ironworks.  Surrounded by beautiful parkland, the house was used as a meeting point for the local town council and was where Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS, took his first steps into politics.