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The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Castles · South Wales

Monmouth Castle

In or near Wyesham.

Anglo-SaxonCadwPaid admission♿ Wheelchair: limited👪 Family-friendly4.0 · 434 Google reviews

Monmouth Castle — 11th-century castle in Monmouth, Wales, UK.

Monmouth Castle, castles in South Wales

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Rookwood · 7.8 km
  • Paid entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Monmouth Castle, the nearest railway station is Rookwood, located 7.8 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is NP25 3BS.

Directions on Google Maps →

Visit on cadw.gov.wales

About

Monmouth Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1060. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Owned by Cadw. Managed by Cadw. Part of Norman Invasion of Wales. Address: NP25 3BS. Wikidata describes it as: "11th-century castle in Monmouth, Wales, UK". Coordinates: 51.8125°, -2.7169°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Monmouth Castle (Welsh: Castell Trefynwy) is a castle close to the centre of the town of Monmouth, the county town of Monmouthshire, on a hill above the River Monnow in south-east Wales. Once an important border castle, and birthplace of Henry V of England, it stood until the English Civil War when it was damaged and changed hands three times before being slighted to prevent it being fortified again. After partial collapse in 1647, the site was reused and built over by Great Castle House, which became the headquarters and regimental museum of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.

From Cadw under OGL v3.

From Cadw

Ruined castle with a regal historyIt’s a surprise to find this ruin, tucked away as it is in a lane off Monmouth’s main shopping street. Strategically located at crossings of the River Wye and River Monnow, only a few fragments – ruins of the 12th-century Great Tower and 13th-century hall – remain of this once-important castle.

Read more on the official property page.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Wye SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Wye Valley

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Monmouth Castle (Welsh: Castell Trefynwy) is a castle close to the centre of the town of Monmouth, the county town of Monmouthshire, on a hill above the River Monnow in south-east Wales. Once an important border castle, and birthplace of Henry V of England, it stood until the English Civil War when it was damaged and changed hands three times before being slighted to prevent it being fortified again. After partial collapse in 1647, the site was reused and built over by Great Castle House, which became the headquarters and regimental museum of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

Only fragments of the castle, including the Great Tower and Hall and parts of the walls, remain above ground, and on the site Castle House and Great House have been built. In 1875, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers Militia, the senior Army Reserve regiment today, made it their Headquarters building and so it remains. It is one of the few British castles in continuous military occupancy. The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers museum is located in the stable block attached to Great Castle House. It includes exhibits relating to the history of the regiment from 1539 to the present day. The castle is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument in the care of Cadw.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.8125, -2.7169
Parish
Monmouth
Postcode
NP25 3BS
Parliamentary constituency
Monmouthshire
Phone
+44 1600 772 175
Established
1060
Nearest railway station
Rookwood7.8 km
Opening
Jan-Mar Mo-Su "by appointment"; Apr-Oct Mo-Su 14:00-17:00; Nov-Dec Mo-Su "by appointment"
Official site
cadw.gov.wales

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Little Castle House, Monmouth📷 3

Historic houses · South Wales

Little Castle House, Monmouth

Little Castle House, Monmouth — house in Monmouth, Wales.

👶
Great Castle House - geograph.org.uk - 3668276📷 3

Museums · South Wales

Monmouth Castle & Regimental Museum

Monmouth Castle & Regimental Museum — a museum in wales-south, United Kingdom.

👶monmouthcastlemuseum.org.uk
Monmouth features (8) - geograph.org.uk - 6931548📷 4

Castles · South Wales

Great Castle House

Great Castle House — a Grade I-listed castle in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Grade I👶
Blue Georgian house - geograph.org.uk - 3670245📷 5

Memorials & monuments · South Wales

War Memorial of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers

War Memorial of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Beaufort Arms Court, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 5229063📷 4

Gardens · South Wales

Crown and Thistle Inn, Monmouth

Crown and Thistle Inn, Monmouth — a garden in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕thepunchhousemonmouth.co.uk
Charles Stewart Rolls📷 4

Memorials & monuments · South Wales

Charles Stewart Rolls

Charles Stewart Rolls — Public artwork (statue).

Free🐕thepunchhousemonmouth.co.uk

Where to eat & stay near Monmouth Castle

Places to stay

Three storey house, Drybridge Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 6733147📷 5

Campsites · South Wales

Monnow Bridge Caravan Site

Monnow Bridge Caravan Site — a campsite in wales south.

Free car park direction sign, Cinderhill Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 6590179📷 5

Hotels · South Wales

The Riverside Hotel

The Riverside Hotel — a hotel in wales south.

Freeriversidehotelmonmouth.co.uk
21st century stone houses, Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire - geograph.org.uk - 6794824📷 5

Campsites · South Wales

Glen Trothy C. & C. Park

Glen Trothy C. & C. Park — a campsite in wales south.

Reddings Inclosure - geograph.org.uk - 2171686📷 5

Campsites · South Wales

Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery

Broadstone Park Camping and Fishery — a campsite in wales south.

Freebroadstonefisheries.com
Slow at the northern approach to Rockfield - geograph.org.uk - 3551840📷 5

Campsites · South Wales

Rockfield Glamping

Rockfield Glamping — a campsite in wales south.

Symonds Yat - The Biblins - geograph.org.uk - 7569232📷 5

Campsites · South Wales

Biblins Youth Campsite

Biblins Youth Campsite — a campsite in wales south.

biblins.org.uk

Places to eat & drink

The Punch House📷 5

Historic pubs · South Wales

The Punch House

The Punch House — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

Free🐕thepunchhousemonmouth.co.uk
Wiggies the Bakers, St Mary Street - geograph.org.uk - 5446360📷 5

Historic pubs · South Wales

Angel Hotel

Angel Hotel in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Cornwall House, Monnow Street - geograph.org.uk - 8298364📷 5

Historic pubs · South Wales

The Vine Tree

The Vine Tree in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Monmouth buildings (35) - geograph.org.uk - 6934991📷 6

Historic pubs · South Wales

Druid's Head Inn

Druid's Head Inn in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Trees recently in leaf, Wyebridge Street, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 8025389📷 6

Historic pubs · South Wales

Queens Head

Queens Head in Wales South, United Kingdom.

queensheadmonmouth.co.uk
The Monnow Bridge, Monmouth - geograph.org.uk - 5845416📷 5

Historic pubs · South Wales

The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse in Wales South, United Kingdom.

the-gate-house.com

More places run by Cadw

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Castles · North Wales

Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle — castle in Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales.

👶beaumaris.com
Caernarfon Castle📷 3

Castles · North Wales

Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle — castle in Caernarfon, North Wales.

👶cadw.gov.wales
Conwy Castle📷 5

Castles · North Wales

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle — castle in Conwy, North Wales.

Grade I👶cadw.gov.wales
Harlech Castle📷 4

Castles · North Wales

Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle — castle in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales.

👶cadw.gov.wales

Other castles from this era

Baynard's Castle📷 5

Castles · London

Baynard's Castle

Baynard's Castle — buildings on two neighbouring sites in London.

👶londonmuseum.org.uk
Wolvesey Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Wolvesey Castle

Wolvesey Castle — Grade I listed castle in Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK.

Free👶english-heritage.org.uk
Goodrich Castle📷 3

Castles · South West England

Goodrich Castle

Goodrich Castle — Grade I listed castle in Goodrich, Herefordshire, England, UK.

👶english-heritage.org.uk
Rockingham Castle📷 5

Castles · East Midlands

Rockingham Castle

Rockingham Castle — Grade I listed historic house museum in Rockingham, Northamptonshire, England, UK.

Grade I👶rockinghamcastle.com

More castles in this region

Caerphilly Castle📷 5

Castles · South Wales

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle — castle in Caerphilly, Wales.

👶cadw.wales.gov.uk
Abergavenny Castle📷 3

Castles · South Wales

Abergavenny Castle

Abergavenny Castle — Grade I listed building in Abergavenny. Ruined castle in the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Free👶abergavennymuseum.co.uk
Allt y Ferin📷 3

Castles · South Wales

Allt y Ferin

Allt y Ferin — hillfort in Carmarthenshire.

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Allt y Gaer📷 3

Castles · South Wales

Allt y Gaer

Allt y Gaer — Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wales.

👶grokipedia.com

Frequently asked questions

Where is Monmouth Castle?
Monmouth Castle is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode NP25 3BS), in the parish of Monmouth.
What is Monmouth Castle?
Monmouth Castle — 11th-century castle in Monmouth, Wales, UK.
How do I get to Monmouth Castle?
The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 7.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode NP25 3BS.
When was Monmouth Castle built?
Built or established in 1060.
Who runs Monmouth Castle?
Monmouth Castle is operated by Cadw.
Is Monmouth Castle a listed building?
Monmouth Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
Is Monmouth Castle a protected site?
Yes — Monmouth Castle is part of the River Wye SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Wye Valley National Landscape (AONB).
Does Monmouth Castle charge admission?
Monmouth Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.