There's more to Cardiff than the countless castles
Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!
published February 20, 2006
Fred and Karen Eckert
So when we recently visited its capital city of Cardiff for the first time, we weren't surprised to find that that among its leading attractions is a splendid castle in the very center of the city next to a lovely park and the city's main shopping streets.
Cardiff Castle, built after the Norman Conquest on the site of a first century Roman fort, eventually fell into the hands of the Bute family, who had amassed one of the world's great fortunes by turning Cardiff into the world's largest coal-exporting port. In the late 18th century, the third marquess of Bute teamed up with an acclaimed architect, William Burgess, to create behind the castle's Gothic towers an incredibly opulent Victorian interior in which each room has a special theme.
On a high hill just outside the city, the two created another unusual castle that is also one of Cardiff's leading attractions, Castell Coch. Often labeled a "romantic folly," like Cardiff Castle it is known for its lavish interior and even better known for the way it matches the idea most of us seem to have of a fairy-tale castle.
But Cardiff, like the rest of Wales, has a lot more going for it than just castles. The largest waterfront development in Europe has totally transformed Cardiff Bay from a coal-exporting port into a huge watersports and leisure-activity complex alongside what is now a freshwater lake.
In addition to fine cafes, restaurants and boutique shops, Mermaid Quay offers such attractions as the new Wales Millennium Centre, housing opera, ballet, dance and musicals in one of Europe's leading centers for the performing arts; Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, whose more than 150 interactive exhibits make it one of the U.K.'s finest science discovery centers and a great place to visit with children; and the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, where you can learn about the bay's impressive transformation and obtain sightseeing information.
A number of boat tours operate from Mermaid Quay and there's a year-round water taxi service to and from the center of the city. We stayed on the bay at St. David's Hotel and Spa, which has great views and quickly became one of our favorite hotels in the U.K.
Cardiff may not be a place that comes to mind when you think of art museums, yet only in Paris will you find a larger collection of impressionist paintings than you will see at this city's National Museum and Gallery.
Rugby is probably something you are more likely to associate with Wales, and Cardiff's new Millennium Stadium is an ideal place to catch a game; it's also an interesting place to tour.
One of the sights that we most enjoyed visiting was the Museum of Welsh Life, just outside the city, a 100-acre, open-air living-history museum containing many original structures and featuring craftspersons and costumed historic interpreters demonstrating Welsh life over the centuries.
Cardiff is a compact city built on level land and is easy to get around in, with all leading attractions quite close to one another. It is also very close to both the coast and scenic mountains.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Upload Your Resume
Upload your resume now to receive jobs targeted to your background and future career goals. 90% of members who found a job through LawCrossing posted their resume.
