Caernarfon

Caernarfon, town, Gwynedd, north-western Wales. Located on the Menai Strait, opposite the Isle of Anglesey, Caernarfon is a historic walled town with a magnificent castle. It has some light industry, including plastics and metal-working, and is also an agricultural market town. Tourism is important. Visitors go to Caernarfon to see the castle, to enjoy the coast, and to sail and fish. The town is the headquarters of two sailing clubs: the Royal Welsh Yacht Club, and the Caernarfon Sailing Club.

The town's strategic location was recognized by the Romans; Caernarfon contains the remains of the Roman fort of Segontium, begun in c. ad 75. Caernarfon Castle was constructed by the Normans in the late 11th century and rebuilt at the end of the 13th century by Edward I of England to act as the base for English control of north Wales; it is one of the best-preserved fortresses of its kind. The Eagle, Queen's, and Chamberlain towers date from 1285-1291, the Black Tower and Queen's Gate from 1295-1301, and the rest of the castle from 1315-1322. Edward I's son, later Edward II, was born at Caernarfon Castle in 1284, and in 1301 was presented to the Welsh people as the first Prince of Wales. The investiture of the Prince of Wales has taken place at the castle since 1911; the current Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was invested there in 1969. Caernarfon was granted a charter in 1284 and became the capital of north Wales. Population 9,695 (1991).