In 1955, Cardiff was named the capital of Wales and since then, it has become the youngest European capital city. Located by the Bristol Channel, Cardiff is proud of its historical heritage of one of the greatest world seaports. Nowadays Cardiff is a wonderful city with the aroma of antiquity and present times, where the Victorian and the Edwardian architectures are supplemented with innovations.
The city’s history comes from the Romanic times while the name Cardiff appeared thanks to the Romanic general Aulus Didius Gallus - Caer Didi, which means “Didius fort”. Just like in many English cities, Cardiff’s development and prosperity started from the industrial revolution, and in this it owes much to the Bute family. John, Lord Crichton – Stuart came here from Scotland to marry local heiress Charlotte Windsor. As a result of this marriage he acquired a high status together with the right for mineral extraction. The Butes possessed vast areas in Wales that were really profitable thanks to rich coal-fields. In 1839 their grandchild took the risk of creating the first Cardiff shipyard and since then, all the iron and coal were exported from the Wales valleys through local shipyards. Thanks to all this, Cardiff became one of the largest ports in the world. The third Marquis of Bute was one of the richest people of the time. He was also a scientist and a religious man, interested in architecture and it is thanks to him that the Cardiff castle and the Castell Coch were restored. In the end of the Second World War the Bute family has sold its property in Cardiff and moved back to Scotland.
Nowadays Cardiff is an important university centre, the homeland for the new Assembly for Wales. The city entered the new millennium in good spirits. In the new century, there was the Cardiff Bay renovation programme launched in Cardiff, thanks to which there was a dam built over the Taff and Ely rivers that helped to found a lake and provided a berth for 200 yachts. Another city’s point is a Mermaid Quay – a complex of shops, restaurants and bars projected to introduce a festive atmosphere to this port region. The National Assembly for Wales is located in the 21-century building – this is a specially built artistic centre with an auditorium for 1900 seats and restaurants which has also become the house for the Welsh National Opera. The Millennium Stadium located right in the city centre. Opened in 1999, the stadium has become one of the British most grandiose projects as it boasts 72000 seats and a retractable roof.
But besides the modern constructions, you can also find ancient buildings here. St. John the Baptist Church is located next to the Llandaff Cathedral. Built in the Norman times, the church was destroyed and reconstructed for several times. Today’s visitors can see a mixture and different styles and epochs here. The Cardiff Castle was built on the basis of a roman fort. Nowadays it is a Victorian Gothic Revival mansion created by the third Marquis of Bute. Each room is finished in its own style and is richly decorated with craved gilded and painted glass. Castell Coch in the north of Cardiff is the other Marquis’s work. This fantastic castle with round towers is built in the medieval style with an interior decorated in the eclectic mixture of styles. Cathays Park is in the city centre and boasts lots of Cardiff architectural pearls. You might also like a visit to the Welsh National Museum and Gallery, the Welsh National Opera, St. David's Hall, the Sherman Theatre and a concert of the man’s city choir. The city is always full of cultural events, so you won’t feel bored here.
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