Plans to introduce an interactive maze and dragons’ lair to Caerphilly Castle have been given the go ahead.
Work to install the new features will start on Monday, July 9, ready for an official unveiling in August.
The £570,000 project, which has been given the green light by local authority planning officials, will aim to improve Wales’ largest castle and its visitor experience.
The improvements are part of a £9.5m investment to enhance many of Wales’ top sites, and the new attractions will be unveiled as part of Cadw’s ‘Castles Alive!’ campaign.
Gilbert’s Maze will be designed and built by creative agency Theme 3, the team behind Madame Tussauds and The London Dungeon.
It will boast interactive props, secret passageways and photo opportunities, and will tell the story of Caerphilly’s unique defensive features that make the castle one of the most impressive in the world.
It will invite visitors to attempt to capture the castle without getting caught by its 13th century owner, Gilbert de Clare.
The Cardiff-based creative team Wild Creations, who were responsible for building the castle’s family of dragons, will construct a new ‘Dragons’ Lair’. It will welcome visitors with smoke, sound effects and a reading of the dragons’ tale.
Throughout August, visitors will also meet a real-life Gilbert de Clare. The historical interpretation of the castle’s founder will be provided by Past Pleasures, the team behind interpretations at Warwick Castle and the Tower of London.
Minister for Culture and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said: “Admissions to Cadw sites have risen dramatically in recent years, with an increase of almost 20% between 2016 and 2017 alone, largely as a result of crowds who flocked to meet the Cadw Dragons.
“This level of success brings significant benefits to Wales’ tourism economy, so I’m thrilled that the planning application for Caerphilly’s new Maze and Dragons’ Lair, which is in line with wider Welsh Government programmes of investment in the Valleys, has been accepted.
“I look forward to seeing what the next chapter will bring for Cadw, with new experiences, events and interpretation to be installed at castles across Wales during the next three years, beginning with Wales’s biggest castle, Caerphilly.”
While initial plans released in May detailed proposals for regular live firing of the castle’s siege engines, Cadw haven’t confirmed that these will be part of the new installations.
Morgan Jones Cllr James Pritchard welcomed the start of the work, adding: “There’ve been some positive moves from CADW over recent months and I welcome the addition of the two new attractions.”
“I believe more innovative visitor attractions, cultural art and the addition of new public realm art features representing Caerphilly’s history and culture would further add value to the Visitor experience.”
“Improving footfall is a key factor for supporting existing businesses and encouraging others to set up, so the next step will be to make sure visitors to the castle venture into the town to support our town centre.”
At last a positive sign that tourism in this area is finally being recognised as a huge potential source of income for many businesses.
For many years this potential has not been fully exploited.