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David Morgan (Cardiff)
Cowbridge is a centre for the Vale of Clamorgan's farming society. It is situated on the Roman road from Caerleon to Carmarthen and has a long main street through the town.
Caerleon is now a small village on the river Usk but it used to be a headquarters of the 2nd Augustan Legion of Rome. The Roman military stronghold was first built in AD.75. An amphitheatre, Roman fortress baths, barracks and other facilities of those days were unearthed and findings discovered there are exhibited in the Legionary Museum at Caerleon.
Carmarthen is an administrative centre of the county of Carmarthenshire. The name comes from the Welsh "caerfyrddin" that means "the town of Merlin." The legendary Merlin is said to have been born there about 1,400 years ago. There is a "Merlin's oak" at the east end of the town. They say that as long as the oak remains, Carmarthen will not be conquered.
Carew is a small village but it is famous for its elegant castle with the Tudor windows on a mound by the river.
Swansea is a large seaport and metal-working city with a population of 172,500. Dylan Thomas was born in 1914 at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive known as the Uplands.
Llantwit Major is one of the most ancient villages in Wales. There was a Christian monastery in fifth century and St. David and St. Tilo studied there.
At the west end of Wales there is the smallest cathedral city in Britain named St. David's.
Tenby is a ancient walled town and fashionable sea resort. It is also the birth place of Augustus John.
Newport is a busy industrial and commercial centre next to Cardiff and Swansea. It was an important iron and coal exporting port in 19th century.
Stena Line ferry port to Ireland is in Fishguard. In 1797 French fleet invaded there. In 1971 Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood" was filmed in Fishguard.
Bridgend is a very old town with three Norman castles. It is now a market and industrial town. The name comes from Welsh word "Pen-y-Bont ar Ogwr, which means "the bridge end on the river Ogmore." There is a large industrial park and many Japanese factories such as Sony, Panasonic and so on, are in operation there.
Hay-on-Wye is a border town at the edge of the Black Mountains.The town became world famous for its secondhand bookshops.
Merthyr Tydfil was once an important centre of iron and steel. In 1804 a steam locomotive ran between Merthyr and Abercynon.
Monmouth is a quite famous and historic town in Britain. Geoffrey of Monmouth, a monk and author of the History of the Kings of Britain, lived in th Benedictine Priory in the town. Charles rolls, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, lived in his manor house not far from the town. King Henry IV might be the most famous among other celebrities of the town. He was born in Monmouth and a statue of him is on the wall of Shire Hall in Agincout Square in the town. The 13th century fortified bridge, Monnow Bridge, still remains.
Laugharne is a place where Dylan Thomas lived his later life.
Lampeter is a small town with the population of 2,000 but it has a college. It is St. David's College, the smallest college in Britain and a constituent of the University of Wales.
Old town of Pembroke was built around a limestone fortress, Pembroke Castle. Harry Tudor was born in the castle.
Pontypool is an industrial town with the population of about 39,000. It used to be a centre of tin plate industry.
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