Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

© Billy Stock/robertharding/Alamy Stock Phot

A fairytale castle. Castell Coch, Wales

Castell Coch, Welsh for 'Red Castle,' is perched on a wooded hill in Wales. Designed by the renowned architect William Burges, the castle is a symphony of opulence, featuring lavish interiors adorned with intricate carvings, vibrant stained glass and sumptuous furnishings. Its external features and high Victorian interiors stand as a witness of the brilliance of its designer. Melding together remnants of the mediaeval fortress with 19th-century innovations, its design achieves a synthesis that is hailed as the glory of the Gothic Revival in Britain. The surrounding beech forest contributes to the fairytale-like background, and they contain geological features of limestone and sandstone, and rare plant species such as the butterfly orchid, bird's-nest orchid and dog's mercury. These woods are recognised and protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.