Brecon Castle Hotel, Castle Square, Brecon, South Wales
Originally built by Bernard de Neufmarche, the brother of William the Conqueror, Brecon Castle Hotel is steeped in the drama and romance of Welsh history and it has been welcoming travelers to the town since 1092.
As a front-line "marcher" fortress, Brecon Castle was besieged on many occasions in medieval times (including three times by Price Llewellyn, the last King of Wales) but never taken by force of arms.
In the 13th C, it was used by Edward I as a beach-head for his bloody campaign to crush Wales as an independent country. By the 15th Century, the castle was home to the Dukes of Buckingham whose support for the Earl of Richmond (later Henry VII) played a major part in the defeat of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and the foundation of the Tudor Dynasty. However, by 1521, the reign of the Marcher Lords of Brecon came to an end with the execution of the last Duke of Buckingham for treason by Henry VIII. In 1645, after a brief stay by Charles I, the castle once again rang to the sounds of men at war with the royalist garrison being subjected to a protracted siege by Parliamentarian forces.
Today the Castle lives at peace with its turbulent history but preserves the atmosphere of its ancient customs.
The hotel has been family-run since January 2007 and in that short time it has quickly acquired a reputation for the warmth of its hospitality and the excellence of its locally-sourced food and drink.
Located at the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park and with stunning mountain views, Brecon Castle Hotel is the ideal base for exploring a region rich in natural history and ancient ruins. This is the land of mountains, lakes, dragons, Celtic hill-forts and ruined castles. The monastic foundation of Llanthony Priory, Roman Caerleon, the book capital of Hay on Wye, the Dan-yr-Ogof caves, the majestic Black Mountains. All this and much more can be discovered within easy driving distance of Brecon.
Nowadays, Brecon Castle is a coaching hotel of great charm and character. Adjoining the medieval Great Hall and Tower of Brecon Castle, this classical Georgian hotel also incorporates part of the original Norman castle. The Hotel occupies a commanding presence on top of its own hill in the centre of historic Brecon town yet thanks to its quiet location, extensive grounds, riverside gardens and beautiful mountain views it retains the look and feel of a country house hotel.
With 43 comfortable double or twin bedrooms and an excellent bar and restaurant, this is a fine base for enjoying the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its five function rooms are ideal for intimate dinners, meetings, banquets, weddings, exhibitions and conferences.
An exciting program of redevelopment started in 2007 and now nearing completion is restoring Wales' oldest hotel to its former Georgian glory.
