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Bernard de Neufmarche the
half brother of William the Conqueror
established a castle and a priory at Brecon. The major castle remains stand in
the grounds of the Castle Hotel. A walled town grew up around Bernard de Neufmarche's Castle and Priory.
Substantial remnants
of the old town wall can be viewed near the National Park Headquarters.
This area is known today as Captains Walk and am reputed to date from the time
of the Napoleonic Wars when French prisoners held captive in Brecon would be
allowed to take their exercise along this route. Brecon
was established as a military town which it remains to this day.
In addition to the narrow
streets of Georgian and Jacobean buildings the impressive architecture of Brecon
includes the Priory of St John the abandoned evangelist which was built in the
13th and 14th centuries on the site of a Norman Church (which became
Brecon Cathedral in 1923).
Pilgrim
Tea Rooms & Hampers is located in the grounds of
the Brecon Cathedral. Light refreshments, lunch menu, plus gift packs of cakes
and biscuits all freshly made from local produce.
The
old county hall built in 1842 contains the Brecknock museum with its wealth of
local history exhibits. On the western side of the River Usk
which flows through the centre of the town can be found Christ College a
public school founded by Henry V111 in 1541. With the
prior permission of the headmaster it may be possible
to view some of the and older buildings.
Amongst the attractions
close to the centre of town is the
South Wales Borderers museum at Brecon barracks where one of the most famous
battles of all time is commemorated. A 140 soldiers of the regiment faced more
than 4,000 Zulu Warriors in 1879 at Rorkes Drift. The film Zulu staring Michael
Caine was based on this event.
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The
Visitor Centre - The tourist information or visitor centre is located
alongside the main car park. 01874-622485 or 01874-625256.
A
town trail guide can be purchased from the visitor centre or the National Park
office. There is a pleasant walking and recreation area alongside the riverside
some 5 minutes walk from the town centre.
The
Monmouth and the Brecon Canal began in 1797 to link the town with a Newport.
37 miles have been restored a magnificent stone at aqueduct carries the canal
across the river Usk just the outside the town.
Amongst the attractions to
be found for visitors to Brecon are a modern leisure centre with an
international standard athletic stadium, tennis and squash courts, two swimming
pools, a gymnasium and indoor bowling green. Golf, cycling, soccer, riding,
fishing and shooting are all well catered for in Brecon
There are many good pubs
restaurants and hotels a cinema and the excellent new Theatr
Brycheiniog.
The main car park is a
large and centrally situated alongside the market with easy access to the old
town centre through the new Bethel shopping precinct.
Travel time to Brecon
from:
Birmingham 2 hours; Manchester 3 hours; London
3 hours 30 minutes;
The
nearest link to the rail network is via Merthyr Tydfil.
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