Welsh Culture & History

Wales, or Cymru as it is called in the Welsh language, is a land with a rich history. Prior to the arrival of the Romans in Britain, the region which now consists of both Wales and England, was populated by Celtic Britons who had migrated from continental Europe. After the departure of the Romans, and the coming of the Anglo-Saxons, the Celtic Britons separated into different group with the Welsh being the largest of these.

After the arrival of the Normans conquerors in England, the Welsh lands eventually came under the control of the English, but this was something the Welsh revolted against a number of times. The story is further complicated by the fact that numerous leaders of England were of Welsh lineage. In 1707, Wales became part of Great Britain and in 1808 part of the United Kingdom. Despite English control, the Welsh maintained a distinct culture and their language. The national museums offer you the opportunity to discover even more about the history of the country.

In the 1800s, a movement towards non-conformist religion further accentuated the differences between the Welsh and English, and as these religions operated through the Welsh language, this also helped to protect the language.

The arrival of the industrial revolution had a massive impact on Wales as it's coal mines and iron works became the powerhouse of development in the region. Migration began from Ireland, England and Italy as well as Asia and the Caribbean, which greatly added to the cultural mix. The industrial value of Wales continued throughout the early part of the 1900s and became of pivotal importance in World War 2, however it's industry began to decline after 1945. This led to the closure of the mines over the following decades and large numbers of unemployed, as well as emigration. To get a sense of the challenge that was working in the coal mines, you can visit a number of museums, one of which, the Big Pit National Coal Museum, offers you the chance to go down into the mines.

The difficulties that Wales has endured have created a great strength of character in it's people, but have not decreased their friendliness, so taking the opportunity to spend time with the Welsh will be one of the most rewarding parts of any trip to the country. And you'll soon discover a couple of things about them. The first being that they have a deep love of sport, especially rugby, and secondly, that most of them have great singing voices.

To start planning a cultural exploration of Wales, contact us today and we're help you to put together a great itinerary for your trip.