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Take yourself on a great adventure to Wales’s heritage sites

Date:

2016-03-21

For those looking for an adventurous weekend look no further than some of Wales’s most iconic heritage sites, which will be hosting a series of events as part of Wales’s Great Adventure Weekend (Saturday, 2 April and Sunday, 3 April).

Cadw, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, The National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales have come together to host a number of heritage events at sites across the country as part of Wales’s Great Adventure Weekend, in celebration of Visit Wales’ 2016 Year of Adventure.

From archery, dinosaur exhibitions and picnics to music events, story-telling and knights and princess trails, there’s an adventure to be had for anyone who dares!

Cadw’s role in the Great Adventure Weekend comes as part of its Historic Adventures campaign, which aims to ignite people’s interest in Welsh history and encourage people to have their own historic adventure.

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “It’s great to see Wales’s key heritage organisations working in partnership to bring visitors this Great Adventure Weekend. With so many different events happening at sites across the country, there is ample opportunity for visitors to have their own heritage adventures during Wales’s Year of Adventure.”

The Great Adventure Weekend is just the start. Families can continue their adventure trail all through the summer with an all-new list of 24 truly ‘epic’ heritage adventure experiences, including stargazing amongst the ruins of Wales’s best preserved Abbey, seeing Indiana Jones’s hat, whip and jacket up close, creating a Lego castle, traveling 300ft underground into Wales’s mines or even joining a big medieval sleep over in one of Wales’s most iconic castles.

Ken Skates continues: “Visitors can continue exploring Wales’s history throughout the summer by accessing the new list of heritage adventures online. I urge everyone to unleash their adventurous side and take part in this exciting programme of events to find out more about Wales’s remarkable history.”

Great Adventure Weekend Events (2-3 April)

Cadw

Tretower Court and Castle

Archery Adventure @ Tretower Castle

2 & 3 April 2016, 11am-4pm

£8.00 / £4.20 / £16.20 (family)

Live like a 15^th Century nobleman in the majestic surroundings of Tretower Court and Castle taking your archery skills to the Castle green and displaying your bravery for all to see.

A fun filled day for families looking to experience the beautiful grounds of Tretower Court as an archer of the Vaughan retinue or member of the 15^th century household of Sir Roger Vaughan and his family.

Tretower Court and Castle

A Background on Medieval Marriage

3 April 2016, 2pm-3.30pm

£8.00 / £4.20 / £16.20 (family)

Ever wondered how the fashionable ladies of the medieval period would prepare for a society wedding? The famous bards of the day preparing to present their verse on the beauty and pageantry of the latest union of two influential families! Take a look at the beautiful surroundings of Tretower Court; the great hall as a setting of a sumptuous wedding breakfast with minstrels filling the house with melody.

An informative talk around the marriage ceremonies in medieval Wales and how a family like the Vaughans would have conducted such a ceremony at Tretower Court.

Conwy Castle

Big Day of Adventure

3 April 2016, 12pm-5pm

£7.95 / £5.60 / £21.50 (family)

Join us at Conwy Castle to celebrate the Year in Adventure. Come and enjoy an afternoon of fun and adventure with Erwyd La Fol, the town Jester, a full sword fighting display, birds of prey and extend your adventure in to the town to complete the knight’s quest. Children in medieval costume have free entry to enjoy a fun packed afternoon.

Caernarfon Castle

Picnic in the Castle

2 April 2016, 11am-4pm

£7.95 / £5.60 / £21.50 (family)

Celebrate the Year of Adventure by bringing a family picnic to the magnificent Caernarfon Castle. Throw down a picnic rug in the castle grounds and savour not only your food, but also the atmosphere of the thirteenth century. What an adventure for kids of all ages!

Around the castle there will be a variety of medieval entertainment to enjoy:

Music from the Syrinx Recorder Group between 12.30 and 1.30
The Castle custodians’ “1295 & all that…” with an opportunity for young recruits to learn how to defend a castle with a longbow.
Find out about medieval life with our handling collection.
Play medieval games like 9-Mens Morris.
Interact with medieval characters and find out more of the history of Caernarfon Castle and the Welsh Princes.

For the really adventurous there will also be the opportunity to have a go at a Caving Experience. But, best of all, you and the kids get to eat lunch within the castle! No booking required.

Normal admission charges apply – EXCEPT kids under 7 years, in fancy dress or with a picnic go free!

Denbigh Castle

Knights and Princess Day

3 April 2016, 11am-4pm

£4.00 / £2.80 / £10.80 (family)

As part of the Year of Adventure 2016, Denbigh Castle will be facilitating numerous activities to keep all Knights and Princess’s entertained for the day.

Activities include the Knights and Princess Trail, make your own Heraldic Shield or Damsel Hat and Face painting

The Day will conclude at 2.30pm with our Knight and Princess Parade where children can show off their costumes or newly created shields or damsel hat.

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales

National Museum Cardiff

Treasures: Adventures in Archaeology exhibition

2 & 3 April, 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm)

£7.00 / £5.00 / 16s & under free

Step into the world of famous explorers and travel on an adventure uncovering treasures from around the world at this exciting new exhibition at National Museum Cardiff. Here you will find extraordinary treasures from popular culture including the hat, whip and jacket of Indiana Jones, crystal skulls, Inca gold and early finds such as Egyptian Mummies and discover the stories behind great archaeological discoveries from the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Pre-Columbian America and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), some of which have never been seen in Wales before.

Suitable for all the family, this exhibition will include a whole host of fascinating objects and treasures from ancient worlds as well as more recent examples uncovered in Wales.

Book your tickets online in advance to avoid disappointment for this inspirational exhibition.

National Museum Cardiff

Thomas Henry Thomas (1839-1915) in Focus display

2 & 3 April, 10am-5pm

Free

A small yet fascinating display introducing visitors to the world of Thomas Henry Thomas, born in Pontypool in 1839. Thomas was a passionate amateur practitioner who pursued a career as an artist and illustrator alongside wide-ranging interests in botany, geology, history, archaeology and what we would today call ethnography, a keen promoter of Welsh culture and identity and one of the driving forces behind the creation of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

The bringing together of images and objects give a glimpse into the life and work of this remarkable man.

National Museum Cardiff

Wales's Newest Dinosaur display

2 & 3 April, 10am-5pm

Free

How adventurous are you? Step inside the National Museum to discover the skeleton of the new Welsh dinosaur, which is back on display during this Year of Adventure. The dinosaur, which is approximately 200 million years old, is the oldest Jurassic dinosaur ever found in the UK. It belongs to the theropod group of dinosaurs and is related to Tyrannosaurus rex, although this dinosaur was walking the earth about 130 million years earlier than its more well-known cousin.

The new Welsh dinosaur is a completely new species, previously unknown to scientists, making this discovery even more exciting!

National Museum Cardiff

Augustus John in Focus

2 & 3 April, 10am-5pm

Free

Come and find out more about Welsh artist, Augustus John (1878-1961). A leading artist of his generation, he was a wonderful colourist and draughtsman, and at the time, one of the most exciting modernist artists in Britain.

This display brings together a selection of paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints from the Museum’s extensive collection, including images of his family and friends as well as his fascination with gypsy culture.