Clan Rising
Castell y Bere today

Wales · Ruin

Castell y Bere

Castell y Bere is a 13th-century stone castle on a rocky hillock above the Dysynni Valley near Llanfihangel-y-pennant in Gwynedd, Wales. Built in the 1220s for the princes of Gwynedd and modified under Edward I, it was besieged and burned in the 1290s and now survives as a ruin in the care of Cadw.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1221

Its prime

1286

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1286

What Castell y Bere looked like in its prime.

Elongated stone castle sited on a wooded rocky outcrop above the Dysynni Valley, its curtain walls running along the ridge with several projecting towers. Two prominent apsidal (D-shaped) towers anchor the north and south ends; a central (middle) tower links to a southern ditch-yard. The west entrance is a barbican with two gate towers and stone steps leading to the inner gate; inside is an open grassy courtyard with a large well and the foundations of internal buildings, all built of grey local stone.

Its story

The story of Castell y Bere.

Castell y Bere was built by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s on a rocky hillock in the Dysynni Valley near Cadair Idris, the first of several stone castles he raised, intended to maintain his authority over the local people and defend the south-west of the princedom of Gwynedd.

In 1282 war with Edward I of England ended in the death of Llywelyn's grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, and Castell y Bere fell to English forces. Edward expanded the castle and established a small town beside it, but unlike his new coastal castles it could not be provisioned by sea and never fitted well into his plan for controlling North Wales. In 1294 the Welsh leader Madog ap Llywelyn mounted a major revolt; the castle was besieged, apparently burnt, and Edward did not repair it.

The ruins keep the apsidal "D-shaped" towers characteristic of early 13th-century Welsh castles and, unusually, evidence of decorative sculpture, including statues of soldiers and decorative floor tiles; only Criccieth displays comparable features. The historian Lawrence Butler judged it to hold "some of the finest stone carving from thirteenth-century Wales". The site is in the care of Cadw.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1286.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Castell y Bere, including 3 interiors: north apsidal (d-shaped) tower, south apsidal (d-shaped) tower, new stone chamber (edwardian addition). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the Dysynni Valley roadBarbican and west entranceInner courtyard and wellNorth apsidal (D-shaped) towerSouth apsidal (D-shaped) towerMiddle tower and Edwardian ditch-yardCurtain wall walk and battlementsSouth and east rock-cut ditchesNew stone chamber (Edwardian addition)Site of the small town to the east

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Castell y Bere with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1286, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Castell y Bere.

Talyllyn Railway, WalesMuseumTalyllyn Railway11 km awayFfestiniog Railway, WalesMuseumFfestiniog Railway31 km away

Questions about Castell y Bere

What is the history of Castell y Bere?

Castell y Bere was built in the 13th century by Llywelyn the Great to maintain his authority over local people and defend the south-west of the princedom of Gwynedd. It fell to English forces after the 1282 war with Edward I, who expanded it and established a small town beside it. In 1294 it was besieged and apparently burnt during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn, after which Edward did not repair it.

What is inside Castell y Bere?

Inside Castell y Bere, visitors can see an open grassy courtyard, a large well and the foundations of internal buildings. The north and south towers are apsidal, or D-shaped; the north tower may have contained a hall or chapel, while the south tower contained spacious accommodation. The site also includes a new stone chamber and an Edwardian ditch-yard.

Who owns Castell y Bere now?

Castell y Bere is owned and operated by Cadw. It is protected as a scheduled monument and is also designated a National Monument of Wales.

Why was Castell y Bere built, and what was it used for?

Castell y Bere was built to maintain Llywelyn the Great’s authority over the local population and to defend the south-west border of the princedom of Gwynedd. Its position also secured mountain trade routes between Gwynedd, Powys Wenwynwyn and Deheubarth. Under Edward I, it was expanded and a small town was established beside it as part of his efforts to control North Wales.

Where is Castell y Bere?

Castell y Bere is near Llanfihangel-y-pennant in Gwynedd, overlooking the Dysynni Valley. It stands on a rocky hillock near Cadair Idris, in the area of the former princedom of Gwynedd.

When was Castell y Bere built?

Castell y Bere was built in the 13th century, with the first construction raised in 1221. The castle was later expanded, including an additional southern tower and Edwardian additions such as a new chamber and ditch-yard.

Was Castell y Bere ever attacked or besieged?

Castell y Bere was besieged and fell during the 1282 conflict with Edward I, when English forces took the castle on 25 April. In 1294, Madog ap Llywelyn’s forces besieged it again during a major Welsh revolt. The castle was probably taken by Welsh forces in late 1294 and subsequently burnt; it was not repaired afterwards.

What did Castell y Bere look like in its prime?

In its prime, Castell y Bere was an elongated stone castle on a wooded rocky outcrop above the Dysynni Valley. Grey local-stone curtain walls followed the ridge, with projecting towers and prominent D-shaped towers at the north and south ends. Its west entrance had a barbican with two gate towers, while ditches protected the south and east sides.

Is Castell y Bere still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castell y Bere is now a ruin. The castle and its associated town were abandoned after the 1294 revolt, and by the 16th century it had fallen into decay. The surviving remains include curtain walls, towers, ditches, the barbican, the courtyard well and foundations of internal buildings.

Who built Castell y Bere?

Castell y Bere was commissioned by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn the Great. The supplied material does not name an architect or designer for the original castle. Edward I later expanded the castle and added further buildings and defences.

More castles of Wales

White Castle, WalesWhite CastleDeganwy Castle, WalesDeganwy CastleOystermouth Castle, WalesOystermouth Castle
All castles of Wales · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.