Winter welcome at south Wales’ heritage sites

19th November 2010

World Heritage Blaenavon Ironworks and, for the first time, medieval Tretower Court and Castle, near Crickhowell, will remain open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the winter months. Raglan Castle will also be entering into the Christmas spirit with late night shopping until 8pm on Monday 29th November and again on Tuesday 7th December with a special 10% off purchases for visitors and 20% off for Heritage in Wales members. In turn, a number of special events to mark the festive season will take place during December at Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle.

Tretower Court, which recently reopened following a major conservation programme, and which now boasts a new visitor centre hopes to welcome many more visitors looking to experience a household preparing for the colder month. Sunday will be a particularly special day for the Tretower household as re-enactment group, the Marcher Stuarts, don their Sunday best for their guests.

At Blaenavon, which is free to enter, visitors can view substantial remains of five early blast furnaces and associated workers' housing, dating from the late eighteenth century onwards. Two of the cottages are furnished, and other cottages in the row contain an exhibition and models of the site and surrounding landscape

Castell Coch’s Victorian Christmas Tale, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December (5.30pm-9pm), will see visitors joining in the fun as the servants of the Bute household prepare for the arrival of the family for the Christmas season. There will be Christmas carols, juggling displays, punch and judy, crafts, mulled wine and mince pies and a visit from a certain old gentleman in red!

Caerphilly’s Medieval Christmas Fayre on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December will ensure visitors get a unique experience of the sights, sounds and smells of a busy town and castle preparing for Christmas. At the medieval market traders and craftspeople will be selling traditional, seasonal and decorative goods and there will be plenty of hot and cold refreshments on offer.

Tickets for the Victorian Christmas Tale events are available direct from Castell Coch on 029 20 810101 priced at £15 for adults (concessions £10). Family tickets are also available priced at £40. All other events are included in the normal admission price unless stated otherwise. However, it is free to visit Raglan Castle’s visitor centre and Blaenavon Ironworks.

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