\n Castell Coch, or\u00a0“Red Castle”, is well-known\u00a0for its\u00a0highly decorated interiors and rich furnishings.\n<\/p>\n
\n It is a popular attraction, regularly voted by the public as their “favourite building in Wales”, according to Cadw.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n Describing the South Wales castle, the Welsh Government service\u00a0added: “Given free rein by the third Marquess of Bute, architect William Burges didn\u2019t hold back.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The highly decorated interiors and rich furnishings of Castell Coch make it a dazzling masterpiece of the High Victorian era.\n<\/p>\n
\n “But it\u2019s no exotic folly. Underneath the mock-medieval trappings you can still trace the impressive remains of a 13th-century castle, once used as a hunting lodge by the ruthless Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare.”\n<\/p>\n
The history behind Castell Coch<\/p>\n
\n Castell Coch, which is located above the village of Tongwynlais\u00a0and can be seen from the M4, dates back to the 11th century.\n<\/p>\n
\n You can see Castell Coch from the M4. (Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto) A\u00a0Norman castle\u00a0was originally built on the site\u00a0to protect\u00a0Cardiff and the route along the River Taff.\n<\/p>\n
\n The ruins of this castle were then acquired by John Stuart, 3rd\u00a0Earl of Bute, in 1760, as part of a marriage settlement, BBC Countryfile explains.\n<\/p>\n
\n “He commissioned the architect William Burges to rebuild the castle as a country residence \u2013 after having commissioned Burges to also design the reconstruction of Cardiff Castle,” the BBC experts added.\n<\/p>\n
\n Burges then set about creating a “magnificent medieval fantasy”\u00a0built around the two towers and a lofty hall from Gilbert de Clare\u2019s 13th-century fortress.\n<\/p>\n
\n Cadw<\/a> explains: “He rebuilt the gatehouse, raised the height of the towers and equipped them with conical roofs topped with copper-gilt weathervanes.\n<\/p>\n \n “He installed a wall-walk and a timber fighting gallery.\n<\/p>\n \n “But this authentic recreation still came with all mod cons, including central heating. There was even a metal bell-pull for visitors to tug.”\n<\/p>\n \n @helloyelloww24<\/a> \ud83d\udccdCastell Coch, Cardiff, Wales \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f\ud83d\udc51 #fyp<\/a> #foryou<\/a> #fyp\u30b7<\/a> #foryourpage<\/a> #trending<\/a> #castle<\/a> #wales<\/a> #uk<\/a> #unitedkingdom<\/a> #trending<\/a> #tiktok<\/a> #castellcoch<\/a> \u266c Howl’s Moving Castle Theme: Merry-Go-Round of Life – Piano – Frozen Silence<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n However, the Earl of Bute fell out of love with the project before its completion, and with Burges dying suddenly in 1881, some rooms were never\u00a0finished.\n<\/p>\n \n The castle eventually fell into disuse until it was requisitioned for British and American troops during World War II.\n<\/p>\n \n In 1950, the 5th\u00a0Marquess of Bute placed the castle in the care of the Ministry of Works, and gave Cardiff Castle to the city, according to BBC Countryfile.\n<\/p>\n \n The castle is now cared for by Cadw.\n<\/p>\n Which TV shows and movies have been filmed at\u00a0Castell Coch?<\/p>\n \n Castell Coch recently featured on a list of “the\u00a010 utterly breathtaking, real-life Disney castles from around the world”, released by BBC Countryfile<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n And while it hasn’t featured in any Disney movies or TV shows, it has played host to various film crews.\n<\/p>\n \n The BBC used Castell Coch for the filming of Wolf Hall, starring Damian Lewis, while The Worst Witch was also filmed there.\n<\/p>\n \n RECOMMENDED READING:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n The South Wales castle has also featured in several episodes of Doctor Who, according to IMDb<\/a>, including:\n<\/p>\n \n You can visit Castell Coch all year round, with ticket prices starting at \u00a37.50 (free for Cadw members).\n<\/p>\n \n For more information, visit the Cadw website\u00a0(a link to which can be found above).\n<\/p>\n\n