Conwy was one of a series of castles established in north Wales by King Edward I to secure the newly won principality, following the death of the Welsh prince, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, in 1282. Begun in 1283, it was conceived and built as a single entity with the adjoining town walls in little more than four years. Together the castle and town walls form one of the best-preserved and most imposing medieval defensive systems in Europe. In 1986, Conwy—together with Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Harlech—was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a historic site of outstanding universal value. This handsome, 64-page guidebook surveys Conwy’s history then furnishes detailed tours of the castle and the town walls. Printed in full colour, it is illustrated with beautiful photographs, specially commissioned reconstruction drawings, historical documents and images, and helpful maps and plans.