Gwent

Gwent is a beautiful county located in the south east region of Wales. It is a county famous for its royal castles and breathtaking natural greenery. The name of the county was derived from the ancient Kingdom of Gwent, a famous medieval empire. Today, Gwent refers to different things in different contexts. Politically, it encompasses five local government regions. For tourists, it is a place where you can see a number of elegant ancient castles and scenic countryside. In literary and poetic imagery, the word Gwent is used to refer to the glories of the historical kingdom of Monmouthshire.

History and Geography

Gwent is one of the eight Preserved Counties in Wales. The title Preserved Counties was given to various regions in Wales for ceremonial purposes. The country was divided into eight regional counties, for administratiive reasons, by the Local Government Act 1972. This act was abolished and replaced by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. As per the new act, the ceremonial counties became Preserved Counties. There were slight alterations in the territorial boundaries of each county as a result of the 1994 Act. But basically, the original arrangement of eight counties remained the same.

Each county is further divided into several local government areas. Gwent was divided into five such regions, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Newport.

Blaenau Gwent is in the southern most region of Wales and is sandwiched between the other local government areas of Monmouthshire and Caerphilly. Monmouthshire and Torfaen lie to the east, while Caerphilly is located to the west.

Caerphilly was created on All Fools Day in 1996, by stitching together two neighbouring districts in different counties, Rhymney Valley, in Mid Glamorgan and Islwyn, in Gwent, as part of administrative reforms. The new district remained a member territory of Gwent County. The town of Caerphilly is the major centre in this area.

Torfaen is located in the central part of Gwent and shares its southern border with Newport, eastern border with Monmouthshire and northwest border with Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent. The name Torfaen translates from Welsh as “rock breaker”. Experts say that the term was associated with the Afon Llwyd river, which flows through the area.

Monmouthshire, which is also known as Monmouth, was the capital of an ancient dynasty of the same name and it is at the confluence of two famous rivers, the Monnow and the Wye. As one would expect from the capital of an ancient monarchy, the region has a number of castles, Chepstow Castle, Raglan Castle, Abergavenny Castle, White Castle, Skenfrith Castle and Grosmont Castle are some examples. Monmouthshire is perhaps the most tourist friendly of the five administrative regions in Gwent.

Newport is undoubtedly the most famous and the most urban of all the regions in the county. Many historians regard it as the cultural capital of the erstwhile Monmouthshire Empire. It is located near Cardiff, the capital of Wales and is the third most populated city in the country. As its name suggests, it is a port city on the banks of the River Usk. The weather in the city is unpredictable, though it is true to say it is somewhat warmer than most of the other places in the United Kingdom. However, unexpected thunderstorms are “expected” almost every day.

Tourist Attractions

Gwent has a number of natural and man-made tourist attractions. Natural attractions include a number of rivers, mountains and a pleasant and sunny climate. The Black Mountains and Wye Valley, which hosts a number of wild life species, are the most famous natural tourist attractions in the county.

Majestic castles form the majority of man-made tourist attractions, but you can also find imposing bridges and well-maintained cultural centres. Raglan Castle is a medieval fortress in Monmouthshire, which was built on the 12th century, and is situated in picturesque Raglan village. The castle has a certain historical importance, because of its siege during the English Civil War. You might have seen this magnificent castle if you are movie buff, since it appears in several films including ‘The Song Remains the Same’ and ‘Time Bandits’.

Chepstow Castle is the oldest surviving stone castle in the United Kingdom. It is situated on the banks of the River Wye, in Monmouthshire and was built in 1067 by Lord William fitzOsbern. Abergavenny Castle is another famous monument in the county.

Famous People from Gwent

The most famous person to be born in this region is the mathematician and philosopher, Bertrand Russell, who lit up the intellectual world in 20 th century Europe. Another world famous person who lived in this part of Wales is Charles Rolls, the co-founder of the famous Rolls-Royce automobile company.