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