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• Capital and largest city in Wales
• Economic heart of finance and business in Wales, responsible for 20% of Welsh GDP
• At the beginning of the 20th century, Cardiff’s port was the busiest in the world and was critical for the production of steel during the industrial revolution
• Home to Welsh media and the UK’s largest film, TV, and multimedia sector outside of London, with several major studios located in the city
• Has more parks, recreation and open spaces per capita than any other city in the UK
Cardiff Castle is at the heart of the city and was built around the original Roman fort. Original construction on the site occurred about 55 AD. Later, the Normans built on the site in 1091 and the shell of this structure still remains. In the 19th century, the Marques of Bute commissioned William Burges to refashion the structure in the Gothic Revival style which added on a signature clock tower and various themed apartments. The Bute family sold the castle in 1947 to the city of Cardiff and it now serves as a museum and a popular tourist attraction.
Welsh Language is a dialect of Celtic that is spoken throughout Wales. The language can be traced back to the 6th century, originating from Brythonic and related to Cumbric, Breton, and Cornish. Recent statistics indicate that over 20% of the population of Wales can speak Welsh and more than 15% can read, speak, and write in Welsh. Although English is increasingly used over Welsh, this trend has declined since 1993 with the Welsh Language Act that gave the language an equal status as English. It is very common to see street and road signs printed in both English and Welsh. Welsh as a first language is more common in the rural areas of north and west Wales, though it is spoken frequently all over.
Cardiff offers a vibrant nightlife, with a variety of pubs, bars, clubs and live music venues. The 10,000 students in Cardiff frequent the Cathays neighbourhood; but you can also explore the city’s clubs, which were made famous by the film Human Traffic. Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is the city’s largest music venue and hosts international bands. There are also smaller clubs for live music, including “Clwb Ifor Bach,” often called “the Welsh Club,” which has three floors of music and is a place to pick up the Welsh language.
• Cardiff City began as a Roman fort in 75 AD
• The construction of docks around the port led to the modernization of Cardiff at the beginning of the 18th century
• Cardiff was a small town until the early 19th century when the city became a major port for the transport of coal and industry
• Cardiff became the capital of Wales in 1955
• Charlotte Church – Singer
• Roald Dahl – Writer
• Ryan Giggs – Footballer for Manchester United
• Cardiff Festival: Every weekend in the summer featuring free music, theatre, and fun
• Breakin’ the Bay: 12-14 June
• Gwyl Ifan: 19-21 June
• WOW on the Waterfront: 24-25 July
• Cardiff Harbour Festival: 29-31 August
Wales is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire United Kingdom. Annually, more than 12 million tourists visit the city
Visitors’ Websites: http://www.visitcardiff.com/
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