Trip 2011

The next leg of our tour of England and Wales took us from Bath to Caerleon, northeast of Cardiff, Wales; Cardiff, then up the Wye River valley to Tintern to see the 12th century abbey ruins there.

After another sumptuous breakfast at Apsley House, we headed out on the highways and motorways towards Wales.  After crossing the Severn River via the Second Severn Crossing we left the motorway to visit the town of Caerleon, which was a Roman Fortress (known to the Roman’s as ISCA) to visit the museum and the ruins of the Roman Amphitheater there.  As we drove into the town, we saw a sign for the Roman Fortress Baths, something we had not heard of before.  Since we had seen the baths at Bath the day before, we decided to take in the baths in Caerleon.  The baths in Caerleon are actually parts of the original baths, part of a huge complex just for the baths.  The displays there are very interesting and informative.

The Roman Fortress Baths at Caerleon use light to imitate water. The displays are extremely informative about how the Romans used the baths.

Once we were done at the baths, we walked up the street to visit the National Roman Legion Museum.  They had a very nice amount and variety of items from the time of the Roman’s on display, along with a lot of information about the legion at ISCA (Legio II Augusta) and the take over of Wales by the Romans.

A model of a centurion of the 1st Century, AD, on display at the Wales National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon.

After the museum, we visited the Roman Amphitheater and Barracks, just a bit down the road.  The Amphitheater was actually located outside the fortress walls of ISCA, while the barracks that have been excavated are just one small part of the fortress.

It is estimated that the Roman Amphitheater at Caerleon could seat up to 6,000 people.

The barracks that have been excavated are just a very small corner of the fortress.  The legion should have had about 5,500 men assigned when it was fully manned at ISCA.

This row of barracks rooms was excavated at Caerleon. It was estimated that each room would have housed 8 legionaries.

From Caerleon, we headed back to the motorway towards Cardiff.  Eventually, we found the Red Dragon Centre, where there is a permanent Dr. Who exhibit.  Many displays from Series 5 (the most recent series; a “series” is a season to ‘mericans), but the term “schlocky” probably applies.  I’m not really sure what I expected, and I wouldn’t say I was disappointed – I guess I just wanted more, or maybe to have David Tenant or Matt Smith walk by!  The venue is kind of a mall-like structure, but with only food establishments, a multi-plex movie theater, a bowling alley, the Dr Who exhibit, and a 24-hour casino.

In front of the TARDIS with a "green screen" at the Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff, Wales. The exhibition looks much bigger on the inside 😉

From Cardiff, we drove north to our final destination of the day, Tintern Abbey.  We had booked a hotel room directly across the road from the abbey, a 12th century Cistercian abbey, considered to be one of the greatest monastic ruins in Wales.  The view from our room was wonderful, but before retiring for the evening, I went outside in the very frosty air to get a few pictures.

A nearly full moon shines through the front window opening of the ruins at Tintern Abbey.