Perhaps one of Wales best kept secrets, the castle at Caldicot sits on an ancient site. Restored to uch of its original outstanding condition, it is a lovely place to spend the day. The castle contains all the elements of the typical medieval fortress, and has been lovingly cared for by its present owners, who have opened it to the public. One of the best ways to enjoy this marvelous structure is to make use of the selfguided cassette tour which allows you to explore the castle at your own pace. But however you travel around Caldicot Castle, you will find yourself transported back to the Middle Ages, and tracing the development of castlebuilding in Southeastern Wales.Caldicot Castle was built on a site that had long been recognized for its strategic value. In fact, the Romans actively made use of the area in the early centuries AD, when Caldicot stood on the Via Julia roadway to Caerwent, the Roman town of Venta Silurum ruins visible just to the north. Caldicots placement near the Bristol Channel allowed observation of the comings and goings of ship traffic and eased transport of supplies to the site. Its useful location was recognized by the Normans as early as 1086, and they built a motte with two baileys and a deep surrounding ditch to control this portion of south Wales.

Website: http://www.castlewales.com/caldicot.html