Legendary Places of Wales
Introduction
Legendary Places of Wales – Wales is a fairytale country, not only for its natural beauty but also for its history and culture. The birthplace of Celtic myths, Wales attracts thousands of tourists every year who want to follow in the footsteps of King Arthur and Merlin, hear dragon tales from the locals or learn legends about forest nymphs.
Whether you’re wandering the imposing ramparts of Caernarfon Castle or swimming in the turquoise waters of Pembrokeshire, you’re bound to come across a legend.
Here are two of the most popular legends spread by word of mouth in the land of giants, dragons and magics;
Branwen Ferch Llŷr: The Legendary Story of Wales
The mystical Snowdonia region of Wales is famous not only for its breathtaking nature, but also for its rich mythology. It is almost impossible to walk around this region without hearing about the legend of Branwen Ferch Llŷr.
The legend of Branwen Ferch Llŷr appears in the Mabinogion and has also been a popular myth throughout history.
Branwen was the sister of Bendigeidfran, the legendary Welsh giant and King of Britain. She was also the half-sister of both Nisien, one of the good characters of the tale, and Efnisien, one of the evil characters.
Some time later, after Branwen settled in Ireland and gave birth to a son named Gwern, she was punished for Efnisien’s actions. She was taken to the kitchen and beaten every day. As a servant, the kitchen was Branwen’s home. In this house she had made a new friend, a little starling. One day Branwen told the starling of his despair and sent him to Wales to tell Bendigeidfran.
When Bendigeidfran heard about his sister, he immediately sent an army to Ireland. Because Bendigeidfran was a giant, he could walk on the sea and the boats of his navy could sail alongside his shoulder. The Irish soldiers were stunned by this sight and thought a mountain and trees were coming at them.
To stop Bendigeidfran and his army, the Irish soldiers destroyed an important bridge across the river. But this was no obstacle for Bendigeidfran. The giant reached across the river and said: ‘He who leads, let him be the bridge. I will be the bridge’ and he allowed his soldiers to cross the river over him. This is a Welsh proverb that is still known today.
In his rage, Efnisien spoiled the wedding ceremony by injuring Matholwch’s horses.
Bendigeidfran apologized by giving Matholwch a healthy horse for each horse that had been defiled, as well as a golden plate and a silver rod the thickness of Bendigeidfran’s little finger. But this wasn’t enough for Matholwch, so he was given the Pair Dadeni (Cauldron of Rebirth), a mystical cauldron that revives the dead.
Matholwch quickly recognized he needed to make atonement for punishing Branwen and consented to crown Gwern king of Ireland.
However, the Irish also had a plan. As part of his concession, Matholwch agreed to construct a dwelling for Bendigeidfran. A massive edifice was required to accommodate the giant, therefore a home with a hundred pillars was constructed. Matholwch concealed a soldier in each of the pillars during construction in order to capture Bendigeidfran.
Efnisien uncovered the Irish scheme and executed the troops.
But Efnisien wasn’t pleased. He envied the social standing of several of his family members.
One night, enraged, Efnisien threw Gwern into the flames, sparking a furious fight between the two armies.
The Irish used the Pair Dadeni to resuscitate their warriors, but Efnisien went into the cauldron and fractured it into four pieces, sacrificing himself.
Only Branwen and seven of Bendigeidfran’s knights survived and returned to Wales. Bendigeidfran’s head was buried in London.
Branwen died from sadness over everything that had transpired.
However, the legend of Branwen Ferch Llŷr is not just a myth, but a reflection of Wales’ deep cultural heritage. Encountering this ancient story as you travel through the mystical landscapes of Snowdonia is a wonderful opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Wales’ history, mythology and the spirit of its people.
The legend of Branwen Ferch Llŷr is also linked to Harlech Castle and other historic sites that are part of the Snowdonia region. These castles bear traces of the places where the legend takes place. They offer visitors the opportunity for mystical, fairytale-like exploration.
To discover the rich cultural heritage of Wales and be enchanted by ancient legends, let’s take a look at another popular legend of Snowdonia, Beddgelert.
The Ledeng of Gelert The Dog
One of the best known and loved folk tales in Wales is the story of a faithful hound.
The story of a faithful dog is a popular folk tale from Wales. In the thirteenth century, the Great Prince Llywelyn, an avid hunter, had several hunting dogs. However, his favorite dog, Gelert, did not show up when he called them with his trumpet. Llywelyn had to go hunting without him, but he found Gelert running towards him with blood running down his chin.
The prince is horrified to see his son’s bloodstained room and overturned cradle. Believing that his favorite dog killed his son, Llywelyn draws his sword and kills Gelert. As the dog howls its death, she hears her son screaming from under the cradle. The boy is unharmed and next to him is a large wolf killed by Gelert. Llywelyn feels remorse and carries the dog’s body outside the castle walls and buries it where everyone can see the story of his valiant fight against the wolf.
Beddgelert, a Welsh village, is known for the story of ‘Gelert’s tomb’, a popular attraction for thousands of visitors. The stones, which are less than 200 years old, were adapted from the story by David Pritchard, owner of the Royal Goat Inn. Pritchard added the names Gelert and Llywelyn to the story because of their connection to the nearby Abbey. Despite its historical origins, Beddgelert remains an entertaining tale with parallels all over Europe.
Things to Do in Beddgelert
In Beddgelert, you can do many activities besides tracing the legends. You can enjoy the Beddgelert walking paths, shop in the Beddgelert shops and have pleasant dining experiences here. You can also visit Beddgelert pubs that reflect the local spirit.
One of the best things to do near Beddgelert is to visit Craflwyn, which is the home of Wales’ most famous legend: the Welsh dragon, which is shown on the national flag. The village’s name is Dinas Emrys.
Craflwyn, just down the road from the settlement, is where you can discover the Beddgelert woodland treks. It also has an information center regarding dragon myths, Merlin’s history, the former Kingdom, and the Kings of Wales.
The next step of discovery could be Dinas Emrys, where you can find the remains of an ancient tower, search for hidden statues and see an iron age hill fort. Not to mention that the home of the Welsh red dragon is here.
Legend has it that there is a sleeping dragon under Dinas Emrys, be careful not to wake it up!
