Fonmon Castle, Park & Gardens

FONMON CASTLE PARK, GARDENS AND DINOSAUR ADVENTURE Visitors to Fonmon Castle and Estate can experience a Dinosaur Experience, reconstructed Medieval Working Farm, Lost Victorian Gardens, Pirate Adventure, an interactive Story Telling Adventure, Fairy Village, Mad Hatter's Garden, Woodland Walks, Children’s Playgrounds, Themed Gardens and a host of On-Site costumed staff. The castle has many splendid areas open to visitors including the gardens. Fonmon Estate sits on 350 acres and the current owners are committed to enhancing South Wales by providing an interactive, outdoor and fun environment. Visitors can interact in Welsh and English and all staff are keen to impart their wealth of local knowledge. Fonmon Castle welcomes research tours and educational groups at almost any time but these need to be arranged prior to the visit. FONMON CASTLE Fonmon Castle is one of the few medieval castles which is still lived in as a home. Set on a private estate in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan and just 25 minutes from Cardiff and the M4, it was built by the St. John family in the early 12th century and has been a family home for over 800 years.

Although most of the present castle dates from the post-medieval period, the rectangular keep was built c.1200 and is still the core of the castle. In later centuries the castle was enlarged by adding wings to the medieval keep accompanied by stunning Georgian interiors. Originally, the Castle was surrounded by outer defensive works that enclosed about 2.5 acres. As time passed and the need for defence faded, this enclosure was converted into the present flower gardens and fruit and vegetable growing areas. Due to the steep ravine immediately to the East of the Castle, these spaces lie to the North, West and South of the main building. On the East, the Castle is backed by mature woodland mostly planted in the 19th or early 20th centuries. As Fonmon Castle is one of the last residential castles of Wales, access to the interiors at all times cannot be guaranteed. However, at certain times of the year, the owners of this beautiful historic building allow visitors to wander and explore some of their highly decorative Georgian rooms.