- St Fagans (Welsh Folk Museum) - 2019 Museum of the Year
- St Donats Castle and Arts Centre
- Cosmeston Medieval Village
- Welsh Hawking Centre
- Llantrisant
St Fagans: Museum of Welsh Life
St Fagans is one of Europe's foremost open–air museums and Wales's most popular heritage attraction. It stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. During the last fifty years, over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland. The re-erected buildings include houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and a splendid Workmen's Institute. There are also workshops where craftsmen still demonstrate their traditional skills. Their produce is usually on sale. Native breeds of livestock can be seen in the fields and farmyards, and demonstrations of farming tasks take place daily. It was Museum of the year in 2019.
St Donats Arts Centre
St Donats Arts Centre is a publicly funded centre of excellence for arts and education in Wales, offering the Vale and its community a high-quality professional arts programme in a unique setting.
It is based in a 14th Century Tythe Barn converted into a professionally equipped theatre.
There is a cafe in the Glass Room, which offers stunning views across the sea towards the Exmoor Hills, to create one of the most inspired and inspiring public buildings in Wales.St Donats, Vale of Glamorgan CF61 1WF
01446 799100 Website
St Donats Castle and Atlantic College
St. Donat's Castle is the home of Atlantic College, one of twelve United World Colleges. St. Donats dates from the 12th century and was purchased in 1928 by William Randolph Hearst.Atlantic College, is an international school for 16 - 18 year olds. The first of the twelve United World Colleges, Atlantic College launched the UWC movement that now spans the globe. There are around 350 students who come from more than 75 countries with the aim of fostering respect for diverse cultural, social and religious backgrounds. Students from diverse nationalities live together for two years, and study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.St Donats Castle, Llanwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales CF61 1WF
01446 799000 Website
Cosmeston Medieval Village
The medieval village is located in attractive Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and is a unique Heritage project in Britain. The reconstructed village is on an original site and consists of medieval buildings, gardens, rare breeds and a small yet fascinating museum. Tours of the village are conducted by costumed villagers with special events throughout the year.
Cosmeston Medieval Village is set in the year 1350, a troubled period in the history between the English and Welsh. The village grew out of a fortified manor constructed around the 12th century by the Costentin family, who were among the first Norman invaders of Wales. In 1350, the chosen year of life we see today in Cosmeston, many of the small villages along this coast were multi-cultural with populations made up of Welsh, English, French and Flemings.
Website
Welsh Hawking Centre
At the Welsh Hawking Centre there are over 200 bird of prey including eagles, owls, hawks, falcons and buzzards.
They can be seen and photographed in the mews, weathering ground, breeding and, if you are fast enough, flying!
Flying demonstrations are the most important feature of a visit to the centre. Weather permitting, birds are flown every day beginning noon.
Welsh Hawking Centre, Weycock Road, Barry CF62 3AA
01446 734687 Website
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is an ancient hill town dating back to 500 AD. The the region’s centre for contemporary design and craft (The Model House) is in the centre of the village. There are also a number of specialist shops: Butcher’s Arm Gallery – coffee shop and gallery; Traditional Toys – rocking horses, teddies and traditional wooden toys; Indian Summer – interior goods; General Stores – selling old fashioned sweets; Pink Zebra – designer clothes and shoes.
Further down the road near the Royal Mint is The Potting Shed selling garden furniture and gifts (CF72 8LP). 01443 237190