About the area
Bordering England, Monmouthshire has been fought over for centuries and so it is filled with castles, including Chepstow which was the first castle built after the Norman Invasion, and Raglan that is often described as the grandest built by a Welshman. There are also smaller castles like White Castle.
The county has several market towns each filled with independent, interesting stores and lots of great places to eat. The rolling landscape is great for walking and cycling and there are numerous golf courses. The history of the area can also be explored at many of the hotels, some of which date back over 300 years.
Places in
Monmouthshire
Abergavenny, a traditional market town with a history that includes a Roman fort, a Norman castle, a Medieval church, sixteenth century tithe barn and one of the best venues for afternoon tea in Wales – The Angel Hotel. There is an annual Food Festival, which attracts foodies from across the UK, and work is underway on restoring Gunter Mansion which will bring stories of illegal Catholic masses, persecution and martyrdom to life.
Caerwent was established as a civilian market town by the Romans in AD75. Large sections of the Roman town walls re still in place, rising up to 5 metres and have been described as “easily the most impressive town defence to survive from Roman Britain.” There are other excavated remains to explore. Caldicot Castle is near by.
Chepstow is at the lowest crossing point of the Rive Wye, and there is evidence of human activity dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. Work started in building Chepstow Castle on the top of the limestone cliffs straight after the Norman invasion in 1067; the iron bound oak doors date back to 1090 AD. The castle has been a visitor attraction since the late 18th century with the Wye Tour; there is a picture painted by JMW Turner in 1794 on show in the town museum.
Monmouth is a town with a rich Roman and Norman heritage. However, the people make it unique. King Henry V was born at Monmouth Castle in 1386, and Horatio Nelson visited the town several times. The leaders of the Chartist movement were trialled in the Shire Hall following the Newport Uprising and Charles Rolls, who joined with Henry Royce to create Rolls Royce, lived at The Hendre. Also, on the outskirts of the town is Rockfield Studios, famed as the recording studio for many bands, including Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (and it featured in the film).
Raglan stands at the crossing point of two Roman roads, and the earliest market recorded in 1354. The market cross stands in the edge of the crossroads between the church and the Beaufort Arms Inn. Raglan Castle started as a simple hill fort but in 1432 work started to create the castle that we see today, and which is often called “the grandest castle ever built by a Welshman.”
Usk is a small town on the banks of the River Usk. It is renowed for its floral displays and open gardens and has a private castle that can be visited. The Vale of Usk is an agricultural area and so Usk Rural Life Museum tells the story of life in the area between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries.