Aberystwyth is a small town in the west of Great Britain in Wales. It is located on the shores of the Cardigan Bay of the Irish Sea, at the mouth of two small rivers: Istwith and Reidol. Despite its modest size and small population of just over 12,000, this city is considered the economic and cultural capital of Central Wales. He has a rich history. There are also many interesting sights in Aberystwyth.
The history of the city begins in 1109, when the first castle was built. Then it was called Lanbadarn - from the Welsh Llanbadarn Gaerog - "fortified Lanbadarn".
In 1277, the English king Edward I, having conquered the lands of Wales after a fierce and bloody war, ordered the construction of another, more powerful castle on the site of the castle. In 1400, the noble Welshman Owian Glendour revolted against the English king Henry IV. The castle was captured by the rebels. However, after a few years, the British were able to suppress the uprising.
By the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the city of Lanbadarn changed its name and became known as Aberystwyth, which translated from Welsh means "mouth (of the river) Istwyth". Alas, the famous castle of the city, its main attraction, has not survived to this day. During the English Revolution, when the confrontation between King Charles I and Parliament turned into a civil war, it was completely destroyed.
In the second half of the 19th century, after the railway line reached the city, Aberystwyth became one of the most popular seaside resorts in Great Britain. This was facilitated by a number of reasons: picturesque surroundings, a fairly good (by British standards) climate, a long strip of wide sandy beach with a gentle slope into the water. A real tourist boom began. The city has built a beautiful embankment with many hotels and boarding houses. One of these hotels turned out to be unfinished due to the customer's financial problems. The municipality acquired the rights to it, and in 1872 the University College of Wales began operations in this building. It now houses the University of Aberystwyth. It should be noted that this city can rightfully be called a university city, since the number of students studying there is almost the same as that of the indigenous people.
Among other attractions, you should pay attention to the ruins of the famous castle, the monument to the Duke of Wellington, the National Library of Wales. And, by using the funicular to climb one of the three high hills that surround Aberystwyth, you can enjoy a very beautiful view of the surroundings, including the highest mountain in Wales - Snowdon (1085 meters).