Llansteffan Castle is a castle overlooking the River Tywi as it empties into Carmarthen Bay near the village of Llansteffan in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was built by the Normans after 1100 as part of their invasion of Wales.

The castle was captured by Rhys ap Gruffydd in 1146. The castle was later retaken by the Normans. Llywelyn the Great recaptured the castle for the Welsh in 1215.

The castle sits on a much older Neolithic promontory fort, proving Llansteffan has been inhabited, and perhaps of strategic importance, since the New Stone Age. The hill’s summit can only be reached from one side, and the hill where the castle/fort stands commands the entrance to the River Tywi (unlike today, the hill would have been stripped of trees to make foot soldiers vulnerable to archers). The original earthworks can still be seen and were used as part of the modern castle’s defence system–the castle proper rests within the earthwork rings.

As castles go, Llansteffan is fairly simple and somewhat minor, and there is extensive damage done to all sections. Nevertheless, the castle has proven a major tourist draw for the fact that it is not on a grand scale such as nearby Penfro Castle.

The site is near the Well of St. David.

Website:

http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6

Admission Charge:-

Adult – £0, Concession – £0, Family – £0

Hours:

Spring Opening Times:
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Summer Opening Times:
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Autumn Opening Times:
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Winter Opening Times:
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Open sites are unstaffed and open to the public with no admission charge at all reasonable times, usually between 10.00 and 16.00 daily.

Facilities for the Disabled:

Disabled visitors and their assisting companion will be admitted free of charge to all monuments where an admission charge is levied. Please note that, for health reasons, dogs are not allowed on Cadw sites, but guide dogs and hearing dogs for the deaf are welcome.

A guide is available for disabled visitors to some of Cadw’s most popular sites. Versions of the guide for specific sites are available in Braille by telephoning Cadw HQ (01443 336 000). The guide is best used in conjunction with Cadw site leaflets or the Cadw Map of Wales. Guidebooks are also available for many of the sites.

The images below are © Sean Bolton
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