Beyond Newport: St Fagans National History Museum

St Fagans National Museum of History, located just outside Cardiff, is one of Europe’s leading open-air museums and a cornerstone of Welsh cultural heritage. Set within the grounds of the 16th-century St Fagans Castle, the museum features over 50 historic buildings from across Wales, meticulously reconstructed to showcase the nation’s architectural and social history.

Visitors can explore a diverse array of structures, including Iron Age roundhouses, a medieval church, a Victorian school, and a 20th-century post-war prefab house. Each building offers a glimpse into the daily lives of Welsh people throughout the centuries. The museum also hosts live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, weaving, and baking, providing an immersive historical experience.

In 2019, St Fagans was awarded the Art Fund Museum of the Year, recognizing its innovative approach to engaging the public with Welsh history. The museum’s commitment to community involvement and education makes it a dynamic space where history is not only preserved but actively lived and shared.

Admission is free, and the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, offering visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the rich tapestry of Wales’s past.