Celebrating a Victorian Christmas in a Welsh Castle.

By Dafydd Young

Nadolig yng Nghastell Caerdydd. No not a series of typographical errors but an invitation in Welsh to take a step back in time at Christmas.

Welsh (Cymraeg) is one of the world’s   oldest living  languages and, along with Finnish, was used as a basis for the language used by  characters in  Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Translated it means Christmas at Cardiff Castle, and for anyone planning to visit Britain  during the Christmas season, now is the time to book.

The castle, one of over 400 in the Principality, dates back  to soon after the Norman Invasion in1066, although the foundations of the Norman Keep rest on a foundations left by earlier Roman conquerors from around 56 AD.
But the rest of the Castle is an Arthurian dream brought to life by the 3rd Marquis of Bute in the 19th Century. The Marquis who long before Fortune Magazine listings arrived was reputedly the richest man in the world, acquired much of his wealth from the labors of the coal miners in the nearby Rhondda Valley. The family repaid part of the debt by donating the Castle and the grounds to the city when his son the 4th Marquess died.
In 1866 the 3rd Marquis employed architect William Burges, renowned for the building of gothic dreams to transform the Castle and create a fairy fantasy Within gothic towers he created lavish and opulent interiors, rich with murals, stained glass, marble, gilding and elaborate wood carvings. Each room has its own special theme, including Mediterranean gardens and Italian and Arabian decoration.
Today it is one of the most visited sites in Wales, and the scene of multiple events throughout the year from jousting to concerts, lectures and art shows.
At Christmas for pure nostalgia, nothing beats Cardiff Castle’s Victorian Christmas Tours. The tour around the House, in the company of one of the Bute family’s housekeeping staff, in full Victorian costume, offers a glimpse of a rich man’s Christmas Past. 

The beautifully decorated apartments adorned with Christmas trimmings, the table set in the Banqueting Hall in preparation for a lavish Christmas feast, the carol singers in the Library and the aroma of mulled wine makes for a wonderful start to the Christmas seaon and Santa will be there with a present for every child. Tours sell out, so if you are planning a trip to Wales, book now to avoid disappointment.

You can extend the return to the past one further by lunching or dining at the castle.

On December 16 and 17 starting at 7:30 p.m. you can take part in a cocktail reception, linger over a three course dinner, washed down with half a bottle of wine and disco away the extra pounds. Until midnight. Price £50
From December 21 through 23 you can lunch in the Undercroft is one of the oldest parts of the Castle dating from the 15th century. For £30 you get a three course Christmas meal, half a bottle of wine and Christmas decorations.
On the way out you can reward yourself with a picture book from the gift shop introducing you to the Welsh language, or take the easy route and order the other half bottle of wine.
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