Cardiff Castle is special because it’s a mixture of Roman fort, bona fide medieval castle and extravagant Gothic fantasy all rolled into one. It dominates Cardiff city center and is one of the first places many visitors to Wales see. The 12th century keep tower gives a great view over the city, and the 19th-century outer walls hide tunnels which doubled as bomb shelters during World War II. However, the most memorable part of Cardiff Castle is the 19th-century west wing, an ornate riot of decorated rooms and apartments built by the Third Marquess of Bute. He made his fortune from the nearby South Wales coalfields, and indulged his fantasies here and at fairytale Castell Coch, on the outskirts of the city. Bute Park, next door to the Castle, is a beautiful place for a walk with great views of the Castle exterior. By David Angel from Travel With Little One -