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Spectacularly sited Harlech Castle seems to grow naturally from the rock on which it is perched. Like an all seeing sentinel, it gazes out across land and sea, keeping a watchful eye over Snowdonia

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Harlech Castle, located in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a medieval fortification, constructed atop a spur of rock close to the Irish Sea. It was built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289 at the substantial cost of just over $12,000 dollars.

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It was part of an "iron ring" of castles surrounding the coastal fringes of Snowdonia, eventually stretching from Flint around to Aberystwyth; a ring intended to prevent the region from ever again becoming a focal point of insurrection and a last bastion of resistance. Following the fall of the Welsh stronghold of Castell y Bere, King Edward's forces arrived at Harlech in April, 1283, and building work began almost immediately. Over the next six years an army of masons, quarriers, laborers and other craftsmen were busily engaged in construction. In 1286, with the work at its height, nearly 950 men were employed under the superintendence of Master James. The final result was a perfectly concentric castle, where one line of defenses is enclosed by another. Unfortunately, the outer wall is ruinous today and fails to convey the true 13th-century effect.
The natural strength of the castle rock and cliff face meant that only the east face was open to possible attack. Here the gatehouse still offers an insolent display of power. The gate-passage itself was protected by a succession of no less than seven obstacles, including three portcullises. On either side of the passage were guardrooms, and the upper floors of the gatehouse provided the main private accommodation at Harlech. The first floor must have been for the constable, or governor, who from 1290-93 was none other than Master James himself. The comfortable rooms on the top floor probably served as a suite for visiting dignitaries, including the king.

http://www.castlewales.com/harlech.html

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Harlech castle is regarded as one of the most important medieval castles in Wales and is a textbook example of concentric castle design

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During the Welsh rebellion of 1294, thirty-seven men defended Harlech Castle against the entire Welsh army led by Madog.

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$ 9282.95 or £6,244

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As if its spectacular situation, foreboding might, and great power were not sufficient to ensure the fame of this magnificent castle, Harlech is also inseparably linked in Welsh myth with the tragic heroine of Branwen, the daughter of Llyr, of the Mabinogion. Mythology aside, it is small wonder that this is one of the most familiar strongholds in Britain. Seen from the bluff of rock to the south of the town, the view of castle, sea and mountain panorama is truly breathtaking. But not only does it have an unsurpassed natural setting, as a piece of castle-building Harlech is also unrivaled. Even after seven centuries, it remains a testament to a military architect of a genius, Master James of St. George. Here he adapted the natural strength of the site to the defensive requirements of the age, and created a building which combines a marvelous sense of majesty with great beauty of line and form.

http://www.castlewales.com/harlech.html

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In 1461 the castle was held against seige by Lancastrian forces, during the War of the Roses, under the Constable of the castle, Dafydd ap Ieuan. The siege is said to have been held for seven years by these stubborn "Men of Harlech" who were immortalised in the famous Welsh song. The Harlech garrison held out long after other Lancastrian commanders in Wales had surrendered to the Yorkist faction.