Discover the secrets of the Celts


What and Where is Wales?

Wales is known as the land of song, andHopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones and
boy does the countryside sing to you.possibly our most famous son Dylan
Wales is placed on the western side ofThomas. Many other people have been
the UK and is the green bit that stickstracing their Welsh ancestry recently -
out on a map, above Devon and Cornwall,including Tom Cruise, Susan Sarandon,
and below Liverpool.Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue. Many of
Depending on where you are coming fromthe American Cultural Icons were either
it should not take you long to get here,Welsh or had Welsh ancestry. 14 of the
but when you get here you'll find thatoriginal signatories to the declaration
Wales is a very different place.of Independence for example were Welsh.
Although English is the first languageJack Daniels the drinks man was Welsh,
in Wales, Wales has its own languageand John Quincy Adams President of the
that is spoken by 305 of the population.US was also Welsh.
Welsh is one of the oldest languages inIf old Buildings are your thing, then we
Europe and is still used in daily life.have over 400 castles at the last count,
Next there is the Countryside views.the Welsh National Opera (one of the
Wales has 3 National Parks and 5 Areasworld's premier Opera Companies), the
of Outstanding Natural Beauty, all partlargest single-span glasshouse in the
of a landscape that offersworld (at the National Botanic Garden of
opportunities for a wide spectrum ofWales), and a great flag with a Red
activities. Walking (the most popular),Dragon on it.
cycling (Wales has many canal paths thatThe capital city is Cardiff. The Romans
meander through stunning countryside) ,had a fortress here in the first Century
climbing, golf (the 2010 Ryder cup willAD, but Cardiff's a young upstart by
be held in Wales at the Celtic ManorEuropean city Standards really. It was
Resort), mountain biking (Afan Argoedofficially given capital status in 1955,
trail is consistently in the top tenand is home to a large concentration of
trails in the world in Mountain BikingTelevision and media companies, turning
circles) and paragliding are just theout award- winning productions like the
beginning of the list.current incarnation of the legendary Dr
Welsh population is around 3 millionWho series.
people, so there's plenty of room forSecond city is Swansea to the West which
visitors, and you can be sure of a warmboasts the UK's first area of
Welsh welcome.outstanding natural beauty, 'the Gower'.
Famous sons and daughters of Wales youThis is the area that board heads adore
will have heard of include Richardas the surfing there is some of the best
Burton, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Anthonyin the UK.



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