Aberystwyth — Secret of the Mabinogion

Your journey in Aberystwyth begins at Aberystwyth Castle, a Cadw Listed Monument Grade II*. Built in 1277 by Edward I of England during the conquest of Wales, its medieval ruins span approximately 1.2 hectares, with towers still reaching 12 meters in height. This site was the scene of repeated sieges during the Welsh rebellions of the 13th century and witnessed the execution of Welsh nobles in 1283 after Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's defeat. Here, you will collect the first fragment of the Mabinogion's secret, a text whose manuscripts date from the 14th century, carefully preserved at the National Library of Wales.

Continue your investigation towards Aberystwyth's Old College, the first building of the University of Wales, opened in October 1872. Its Victorian Gothic architecture, designed by Thomas Savin in 1864-1865, features a main facade 80 meters long. This place, which housed the first students in 1872 with an initial capacity of 100 residents, was damaged by fire in 1885 then restored in 1887. Along its historic walls, you will decipher the clues left by Thomas Charles Edwards, its first principal, a key figure for understanding the heritage of mid-Wales.

Your path then leads you to Aberystwyth Pier, a site listed Grade II in 1971 by Cadw for its Victorian architectural significance. Opened on April 1, 1865, with an original length of 270 meters, it was shortened to 95 meters after the 1938 storm. The first reinforced concrete pier in Wales, it was rebuilt in 1964. This location was also the scene of a partial shipwreck in 1865, causing 5 deaths during its construction. The waves of the Irish Sea here whisper sailors' tales and echoes of Celtic legends, guiding you to the next element of your quest in Aberystwyth.

Walk along the coast to the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, the longest funicular in Wales, measuring 274 meters in length. Opened on August 1, 1896, this attraction connects the town to Constitution Hill at an altitude of 135 meters with an average gradient of 32%. It transports 50,000 passengers annually and has a capacity of 30 people per car. Closed for 9 months in 2013 for major mechanical restoration, it offers a unique perspective on North Beach, a 1.2 km long beach awarded Blue Flag in 2023 for its water quality and cleanliness. This popular bathing site since 1860 is protected by a 1.5 km breakwater built in 1896 and hosts annual kitesurfing competitions since 2005.

Your journey concludes at the National Library of Wales, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1907. This Welsh legal deposit since 1911 preserves 60 km of shelving and a collection of 4.5 million items, including all books published in Wales. The main building, opened in 1916, saw a 35,000 m² extension in 1995. It is here that the Mabinogion manuscripts, the oldest Welsh mythological tales, are preserved. As an archivist, you will have reconstructed the history of these texts and the town of Aberystwyth, linking medieval epics to the Victorian and modern developments of this mid-Wales town.