Museums and Art Galleries
The Museum of Welsh Life
One of the most highly acclaimed visitor attractions in Wales. More of a village chronicling the story of Wales than a museum, this delightful attraction at St. Fagans (west of Cardiff) is not to be missed. Over forty buildings from across Wales are are laid out among 100 acres of parkland to create a fascinating record of Welsh history. The stunning castle with its exquisitely restored gardens give a taste of how the other half lived. Free entry. Tel 029 2039 6521 Website
National Museum and Gallery, Cardiff
One of UK's top ten museums in "Which?" 2000, it houses the largest collection of impressionist paintings in Europe outside Paris, along with the best Welsh art, and world class collections of everything from archaeology to zoology. Open Tuesday- Sunday 10am-5pm- Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. Tel 029 2039 7951 Website
Turner House Gallery, Penarth
Houses paintings from the collection of the National Gallery. Tel 029 2070 8870
Oriel Washington Gallery, Penarth
A
unique gallery of Art Deco Design showing a range of comtemporary art. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. Tel 029 20708047
St Donats Arts Centre
Art Gallery and Concert Venue in converted tythe barn. Tel 01446 794848
Nantgarw China Works Museum
How Nantgarw, a tiny canal-side village became world famous for its delicate porcelain.
Open April to Sept Tuesday-Sunday 10am - 4.15pm, Oct to March Thursday-Sunday 10am - 3.15pm. Tel 01443 841703
Rhondda Heritage Park, Trehafod
A chance to go underground and see how generations of miners hewed the coal.
Open All Year 10amm-6pm. Tel 01443 682036
Cyfarchfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery
North of Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre on the A470- Commissioned by Ironmaster William Crawshay in 1824 this grand mansion overlooks his immensely successful ironworks and has been called and is the most impressive monument of the Industrial Iron Age in South Wales. Set in beautiful parkland on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Open all Year: April to Sept 10am-5pm, Oct to March 10am-4pm Tues-Fri and 12 noon-4pm Sat/Sun. Tel 01685 723112
Small Local Museums
Cowbridge Museum
Once a house of correction built in 1806, consisting of two corridors of cells displaying photos and information of local historical interest. Open first Saturday in the month, morning only.
Barry Living History Archive Centre
Explores the history of Barry and the Vale. Tel 01446 722166
Llantwit Major Visitor Centre
(Town Hall) Open May-Sept 10am-1.30pm / 2pm-6pm Sats and Bank Hols/ Sundays 1.30pm-6pm. Tel 01446 796086
Porthcawl Museum, John St.
This small museum has a fascinating collection of artefacts, costumes and memorabilia charting history of this coastal town. Tel 01656 782211
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