Latest technology brings history of Criccieth Castle to life

The history of Criccieth Castle will come alive through brand new digital technology that will allow visitors to relive moments from the site’s turbulent and exciting past.

A new £450k visitor centre will open to the public for the first time, featuring interactive displays including drone footage and CGI reconstruction that provide a glimpse of the castle as it was hundreds of years ago.

The centre at Criccieth Castle, which was built by Welsh princes Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn the Last, refurbished by English kings and was one of the castles captured by Owain Glyndŵr in the last major Welsh rebellion against the English. The new experience will allow visitors to explore the story of the Princes of Gwynedd through immersive games, activities and animation.

Replica Medieval Chamber

The visitor centre features a replica medieval chamber where visitors can watch three projections, telling stories of various characters from the Llywelyn the Great’s era, each projected onto a wooden table and each controlled by visitors touching artefacts on the table.

The room has been dressed with large wooden throne, carved by award-winning Wrexham-born sculptor, Simon O’Rourke, table and banners.

Other activities in the centre include a marble run game where visitors can learn about the dynasty of the princes of Gwynedd and a family trail.

Visitors can also enjoy spectacular views of the Welsh coast from the new decking area at the centre, which also features a gift shop and coffee bar.

The new building is part of a wider £2.6m project to improve Cadw sites across Wales with the aim of attracting more visitors and further improving on-site experiences for visitors.

The project will include the refurbishment of shops and visitor centres as well as conservation works to parts of historic buildings and monuments

Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, said:

This is yet another example of us combining the latest technology with our country’s rich history to enhance the visitor experience at Cadw sites across Wales.

Last year Cadw welcomed a record number of visitors and it is important that we continue to come up with new ways of helping them to engage with and to enjoy our historic environment.

In Visit Wales’s ‘Year of Legends’ it is more relevant than ever to reconnect visitors to important historical figures such as Owain Glyndŵr and Llywelyn the Great and I hope this project encourages more people to Live the Legends at Criccieth Castle this year.