CONTACTS The City Hall, built from , CAPITAL OF is Europe’s EVENTS IN magnificent white Portland CARDIFF stone, boasts an elaborate youngest capital city. It became capital All British government departments can be clock-tower. It forms part of of Wales in 1955. Wales is a mountainous

accessed through the Government Centre Tourist Board © Wales the Civic Centre that is built January country in the west of Great Britain, the for Information Systems’ World Wide Web around . Calennig New Year celebrations — pages.The address is: www.ukonline.gov.uk largest island that forms the mainland of ‘Calennig’ means New Year’s gift Information about the UK can be found on the United Kingdom. It is bordered by © London Picture Service www.i-uk.com the sea on three sides and England March to the east. St David’s Day celebrations around the The Foreign & Commonwealth Office city on 1 March King Charles Street, London SW1A 2 AH Cardiff is situated on the banks of the www.fco.gov.uk Worthington Cup Final, Millennium River Taff where it meets the Bristol Stadium Channel, on Wales’ southern coast. Wales Tourist Board Brunel House The decorative interior of Today, this vibrant city has a population April never fails to of over 300,000 and attracts visitors 2 Fitzalan Road impress visitors to the city. Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, Cardiff CF24 0UY The building was renovated from all over the world. Tel:+44 (0)29 2049 9909 IN- CITY Tourist Board © Wales during1865–72 by the CARDIFF architect,. Fax: +44 (0)29 2048 5031 Each room has its own The city’s fine white buildings of May www.visitwales.com theme. Portland stone have earned Cardiff the Mayday at St Fagans, craft fair and title of the ‘Washington DC of Europe’. Cardiff Visitor Centre traditional dancing around the 16 Wood Street The impressive Civic Centre, which maypole at the Museum of Cardiff CF10 1ES contains the City Hall, Law Courts, Welsh Life Tel:+44 (0)29 2022 7281 Cardiff University and the National The FA Cup Final at the Millennium Fax: +44 (0)29 2023 9162 Museum and Gallery of Wales, is a major Stadium landmark amongst the wide tree-lined Millennium Stadium avenues and beautiful parklands. June First Floor, Golate House 101 St Mary Street Cardiff Singer of the World biennial Another city-centre landmark is Cardiff Cardiff CF10 1GE competition in opera and song at Tel:+44 0870 013 8600 Castle. In fact, it is three castles in one St David’s Hall Cardiff Castle, with its Fax: +44 (0) 29 2023 2678 turrets and towers, — a Roman fort, a Norman keep and Speedway Grand Prix, Millennium dominates the centre of a mock gothic Victorian mansion with Stadium November the city. Its history spans Museums and Galleries of Wales Tourist Board © Wales more than 2,000 years. lavish interiors. The fine gold leaf Bonfire Night in with live www.nmgw.ac.uk hangings, decorative tiles, exotic July entertainment and spectacular precious metals and marquetry amaze © Wales Tourist Tourist Board © Wales National Assembly for Wales The Welsh Proms, the highlight fireworks visitors and make this one of the city’s of the Welsh musical calendar, Cardiff Bay Festival of Literature, most popular attractions. It was created Cardiff CF99 1NA at St David’s Hall including poetry readings, story- Tel:+44 (0) 29 2082 5111 by the third Marquis of Bute, who was telling and lectures www.wales.gov.uk reputed to be the richest man in the July/August World Rally Championships world. The Castle grounds are great Cardiff Summer Festival — Europe’s settings for summer concerts. largest free festival includes the November/December INcity Cardiff is produced by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for distribution through Welsh Proms, the Celtic Food and International Film Festival of Wales British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates. THE CITY’S HISTORY can be can traced Drink Festival and many other celebrating the achievements of the back to the Romans who established an © Crown copyright.The text may be freely reproduced music, arts and theatrical events Welsh film industry and Welsh outside the UK with or without acknowledgement, important military fort there in AD 75. The Welsh owe much to around the city. Last two weeks of except for sale or advertising purposes. filmmakers their Celtic ancestry and ‘Caer Didi’, meaning ‘Fort of Didius’, July and the first week of August Published by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. culture, as seen in this was named after the Roman General, Written by Judith Newton,Wales Tourist Board. intricately carved Celtic Cross. Aulus Didius, and it is from here that October/November Designed by Staziker Jones, Cardiff. Cardiff (Caerdydd in Welsh) gets its © Wales Tourist Tourist Board © Wales Printed by Abba Litho Sales, London. International Festival of Musical The Llandaff War Memorial name. The is one of March 2003 commemorates those lost Theatre in Cardiff — over 250 Order No: 2074 in the first world war Europe’s oldest, with Wales being greatly performances from all over the (1914–18).Tower House, influenced by the Celts from about once the Red Lion Inn, was world celebrating the musical. Top:An aerial view of Cardiff’s state-of-the-art Front cover:The National Museum and Gallery of demolished so that the 500 BC. The first event of its kind. Millennium Stadium. It has capacity for 72,500 Wales houses a wealth of exhibitions, covering art, Board Right © London Picture ServiceTourist Wales Left © ruins of this 13th century science and natural history. © Wales Tourist Board. www.cardiffmusicals.com spectators. bell tower could once again be seen. Right Top:Wales hosts the World Rally Championships Back cover:The distinctive Pierhead Building, facing in November. Cardiff docks, was opened in 1897 and is famous for its carved brickwork. © Wales Tourist Board. Right Bottom:There’s fun for everyone in Cardiff, from street performers to lively festivals. stands Llandaff Cathedral, not far from the Works of art add an extra The Cardiff Bay development is already Rugby is played everywhere RUGBY IS often likened to a religion St David’s Hotel is just one of WHEN EVENING ARRIVES Cardiff really on the site of a 6th century dimension to the waterfront in Wales and the whole many new facilities at Cardiff religious community centre of Cardiff, was established during at Cardiff Bay. home to several visitor attractions, shops, country follows the fortunes in Wales and the national team now Bay.This exciting area is comes to life. St David’s Hall, in the founded by St Teilo.The the 12th century on one of the oldest restaurants and businesses, as well as the of the national team. proudly plays at its state-of-the art new home to businesses, visitor heart of the city centre, is the National © Wales Tourist Tourist Board © Wales © Wales Tourist Tourist Board © Wales present cathedral dates Tourist Board © Wales attractions, restaurants, © London Picture Service Christian sites in the United Kingdom. new National Assembly. The new Wales home, the Millennium Stadium. back to 1107. hotels and the National Concert Hall of Wales. Locals and Millennium Centre will add a unique Dominating the Cardiff city skyline, Assembly of Wales. visitors enjoy a wealth of live The arrival of the Industrial Revolution cultural focus to the area. the stadium played a crucial role during entertainment here including the in the 18th century completely changed the hugely successful 1999 Rugby World famous bi-annual Cardiff Singer of the the landscape of South Wales and THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES Cup final which put Cardiff and Wales World competition and the annual Cardiff ’s fortunes. With the growth of is the centre of government in Wales. Welsh rugby supporters on the worldwide stage for hosting Welsh Proms. As well as orchestral the coal industry and the construction One of the world’s newest democratically sing their hearts out to spur major international tournaments. concerts featuring the world’s top the national team on to of railways and canals, Cardiff became a elected institutions, the Assembly was victory. Besides hosting the Wales ‘home’ rugby orchestras, soloists and conductors, Cardiff’s indoor market, built formed in 1999 and has 60 Assembly Tourist Board © Wales in 1891, has a distinctive major port. The second Marquis of Bute matches, the stadium is also home to international stars of pop, rock, folk, Victorian design. Many of has been named as the ‘Creator of Members chosen by the people of Wales. football’s FA Cup Final and Charity jazz and blues share the stage with the stalls have been run Modern Cardiff ’ as the family played It is responsible for a wide range of Shield. The Welsh are renowned traditional ballet, contemporary dance, by the same families for The national flower of for their musical abilities © London Picture Service generations. Here, you can a leading role in the city’s development. Wales is the daffodil. Welsh affairs such as economic and the male voice choir musicals and comedy. buy many tasty Welsh In 1913 Cardiff was the biggest It blooms in spring and development, health and education. Cardiff ’s own football team, better is a Welsh institution. specialities such as is traditionally worn Tourist Board © Wales Some choirs of the past laverbread and Welsh coal-exporting port in the world. on St David’s Day, the Wales remains part of the United known as ‘The Bluebirds’, have their have been up to 150 The award-winning Welsh National cheeses. National Day of Wales, Kingdom and continues to send 40 home ground at Ninian Park. Cricket strong. Opera, which first performed at which falls on 1 March. NOWADAYS, CARDIFF’S ECONOMY Members of Parliament (MPs) to fans can watch first-class games at Cardiff ’s Prince of Wales Theatre in is based on service industries, The national flag of Wales, Westminster in London; the laws passed Glamorgan County Cricket Club while 1946, is today regarded as one of the © Wales Tourist Board © Wales Tourist Board Tourist Wales Board © Tourist Wales © manufacturing electronics and a red dragon on a field of by the UK Parliament still apply to the Glamorgan National Cricket Centre UK’s premier opera companies, white and green, dates from engineering. Thousands are employed the 15th century. Wales. provides excellent indoor facilities for bringing the delights of opera to a wide in public administration, the education The Millennium Stadium clubs at all levels. The city also boasts and diverse audience. For theatre-lovers, Cardiff is a shoppers’ provides a superb venue paradise catering for every and health services, the distribution Cardiff County Council is one of 22 for sporting tournaments one of the UK’s top ice hockey teams, the New Theatre has been staging taste, with large modern and catering industries, and in banking, Unitary Authorities in Wales, responsible and other events. Many the Cardiff Devils. period dramas, musicals and operas shopping precincts and Tourist Board © Wales internationally acclaimed department stores to finance and insurance. Excellent road for providing local services such as musicians have literally since 1906 while new theatrical works unusual boutiques which line and rail links make the city easily schools, social services, local roads and ‘raised the roof’ here — CARDIFF’S MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES can be seen at the . the Victorian (1837–1901) the stadium is equipped and Edwardian (1901–10) accessible to and from other parts libraries. Its 75 councillors are elected with a sliding roof to keep cater for every interest and taste. Arcades. of the UK and beyond through the by local people every four years. out the worst of the Welsh The National Museum and Gallery Cardiff is looking forward to welcoming weather. The Norwegian Church

© London Picture Service © London Picture Service St John’s Church is the parish international airport, which handles Inside the National of Wales houses the finest collection of in Cardiff Bay was formerly the world’s top performing artists to the church of Cardiff.The present over one million passengers a year. Assembly for Wales.This A ‘CITY OF PARKS’ is how Cardiff is often Impressionist paintings outside France, a Norwegian seaman’s new , a unique building dates back to the new, democratically-elected church. It now houses an

described. The city has more green space and its exhibitions also include the Tourist Board © Wales 15th century although there institution gives the people art gallery and exhibition international arts centre presenting all may have been a place of Cardiff Bay has been described as of Wales a far greater say per person than any other in the UK. Evolution of Wales, a 4,600 million year centre. forms of music theatre, from opera and © London Picture Service worship here long before Europe’s most exciting waterfront in their nation’s affairs. Over 1,400 hectares of parks, formal journey through the country’s past. then. ballet to musicals and dance. In years development. Almost £2 billion has been gardens, recreation grounds and The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans, to come, this will stand amongst the invested to rejuvenate the dockland area. countryside areas are owned and on the outskirts of Cardiff, is one of culturally outstanding buildings of Its focus is a huge freshwater lake managed by the County Council. Some Europe’s biggest and most exciting open Europe and is one of the focal points enclosed by a barrage across the bay. 750,000 bedding plants are grown every air museums. It presents a unique of Cardiff ’s bid to become European The Bhatra Sikh Gurdwara. Sikhs are one of Cardiff’s The futuristic Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, year in the council’s nursery to turn the collection of buildings from all over City of Culture in 2008. many and varied religious known locally as ‘The Tube’ because of city into a riot of colour during the Wales, from Celtic villages and 17th communities. Others include The National Museum Christians, Muslims, Jews, its distinctive shape, tells the story of the summer months. Residents, businesses century farmhouses to the house of the There is no shortage of pubs in the city,

© London Picture Service of Wales houses an Hindus and Buddhists. past, present and future of this and schools play a major part too in impressive collection of future. At , the UK’s leading with over 350 at the last count. The fascinating development. brightening the city by competing in the sculpture. It includes several Science Discovery Centre, the marvels of busiest are found along St Mary Street, works by the French annual ‘Cardiff in Bloom’ competition. sculptor, Auguste Rodin science come to life through over 160 many serving potent local brews such Craft In The Bay has moved to a new Local residents, business One of the city’s best known parks, (1841–1917), among them hands-on exhibits. as Brains SA bitter. The club scene in visitors and tourists alike, a copy of The Kiss (left) and permanent home in a restored and Bute Park, provides a massive expanse of Cardiff is vibrant and wide-ranging too, all appreciate Cardiff’s as well as many classical An international extended maritime warehouse on the beautiful parks and green space in the very centre of the city, works (right). atmosphere is to be found catering for all tastes from the populist gardens. waterfront. Managed by the Makers the perfect place to escape from the in Mill Lane. Its many mainstream dance clubs to the smaller, restaurants offer cuisines Guild in Wales it showcases a wealth Cardiff’s tree-lined streets bustle of urban life. Board Right © London Picture ServiceTourist Wales Left © © Wales Tourist Tourist Board © Wales from every corner of the cult venues. of quality Welsh crafts. make it a pleasant place globe, while café bars are New life has been breathed to shop.The city has been the place to relax on a fine into Cardiff’s docklands with awarded the title ‘best summer’s day or evening. the rejuvenation of Cardiff © London Picture Service © London Picture Service value for money shopping Bay, Europe’s most exciting centre in the world’ no less waterfront development. than five times. © London Picture Service