Castell Dinas facts for kids
Castell Dinas is an ancient place in Wales, high up in the mountains of southern Powys. It's a special spot because it was once an Iron Age hillfort and later became a castle. At 450 meters (about 1,476 feet) above sea level, it's known as the highest castle in England and Wales! Its location was super important, helping to guard the Rhiangoll pass, a route between the towns of Talgarth and Crickhowell.
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A Story of Two Forts: Iron Age and Norman Castle
From Ancient Hillfort to Mighty Castle
Long, long ago, around 600 BC to 50 AD, this site was first used by people from the Iron Age. They built a strong hillfort here. A hillfort was a large, protected settlement, often surrounded by ditches and earth walls.
Later, around 1070 to 1075, a new kind of fort was built. This was a Norman castle with strong stone walls. It might have been built by important Norman leaders like William Fitz Osbern or his son Roger de Breteuil.
The Castle's Early Days
This new stone castle was very important at first. It had a main hall and strong walls with square towers. But soon, another castle was built in Brecon, which became even more important.
For many years, Castell Dinas was part of the Brecon area. Then, in 1207, King John of England gave the castle to a man named Peter FitzHerbert. This made Castell Dinas the main stronghold for a new area, which later became known as Talgarth or Blaenllyfni.
Battles and Changes
Castell Dinas saw many battles over the centuries.
- In October 1233, a powerful Welsh prince, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, attacked and captured the castle.
- After this, King Henry III of England made the castle strong again before giving it back to Peter FitzHerbert.
- Later, between 1263 and 1268, Llywelyn's grandson, Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, also captured the castle.
The End of the Castle
The castle's story came to an end in the early 15th century. During a big Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr, his supporters finally destroyed Castell Dinas.
Today, if you visit Castell Dinas, you'll see mostly crumbling walls. These walls are often covered by earth. You can also still see the outlines of the old ditches and earth walls from the original Iron Age hillfort. From this high spot, you get amazing views of the Black Mountains and the land stretching towards Talgarth and Brecon. It's a great place to imagine the history that happened there!
