About Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery is located in the historical town of Merthyr Tydfil, which established itself as the Iron Capital of the World in the 18th Century with its huge Iron-Works complexes.
Cyfarthfa Castle is widely regarded as the best-preserved and grandest Ironmaster’s house in Wales. The building, which is Grade 1 listed, is of national, historical and architectural significance and was built in 1824 for the Ironmaster, William Crawshay II.
After the Crawshay family vacated the castle in the late nineteenth century, it was converted into a museum and art gallery on the ground floor and a school on the upper floors. The school is no longer situated within the castle, but the museum and art gallery that first opened its doors in 1910, continues to this day and has often been described as a 'hidden gem' due to its spectacular art and eclectic social history collections.
Visitors can see a variety of fine and decorative art as well as learn about Merthyr Tydfil's rich heritage from the Roman conquest to the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
The Castle is situated in 160 acres of parkland with formal gardens, a lake, children’s play area and a model railway.
Cyfarthfa Castle is a great day out, set on the edge of the picturesque Brecon Beacons National Park, with a tearoom offering delicious food, and an outdoor seating area, which is perfect for relaxing in the summer months.
