From Roman fort to royal birthplace to UNESCO World Heritage Site — the events and people behind 700 years of history.
A Roman fort named Segontium stood half a mile from the current castle — the likely source of the town's Welsh name, "Caer yn Arfon" ("the fort in Arfon").
Fresh from defeating the last native Welsh princes, Edward I orders Caernarfon's construction and puts Master James of St George in charge of the design, alongside new town walls and a quay.
Queen Eleanor of Castile gives birth to the future Edward II at Caernarfon — the king who, in 1301, becomes the first English Prince of Wales.
Welsh forces under Madog ap Llywelyn sack the unfinished castle and town. Edward I has it recaptured and orders the defenses strengthened.
After roughly 47 years and around £25,000 spent, work on the castle effectively stops. Much of the planned interior, including the Great Hall, is never finished.
Owain Glyndŵr's forces besiege Caernarfon during the Welsh War of Independence. A small English garrison holds the castle.
Held for the Royalist cause, Caernarfon Castle sees its last military action before surrendering to Parliamentary forces in 1646.
David Lloyd George, then Constable of the castle, helps stage the investiture of the future Edward VIII in the restored outer bailey — the first such ceremony held at Caernarfon.
The future King Charles III is invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon in a televised ceremony watched by an international audience.
Caernarfon is inscribed as part of the "Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd" UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech.
King of England who ordered Caernarfon built after conquering Gwynedd, intending it as the symbolic seat of his new rule over Wales.
Edward I's master architect and master of the king's works in Wales, responsible for the castle's design and several of Edward's other Welsh castles.
Edward I's queen, who gave birth to the future Edward II at the castle in 1284, while it was still a construction site.
Welsh nobleman who led the early-15th-century revolt against English rule, besieging Caernarfon during his campaign.
Constable of Caernarfon Castle and British Prime Minister, who helped organise the 1911 investiture ceremony held at the castle.
Invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon in 1969, in a ceremony broadcast to a global television audience.
Several Caernarfon Castle guided tours spend significant time on this history — the small-group tour from Holyhead, in particular, stops at the room traditionally linked to Edward II's birth and the outer bailey investiture site. For the building's physical layout, see Caernarfon Castle's architecture and layout.
Compare all 7 Caernarfon Castle tours side by side, including prices, ratings, and what's included.