Newport Castle

Visitor Notice

Due to concerns over the further spread of Coronavirus and the well-being of our visitors, we regret to report that all Cadw unstaffed monuments and car parks will be closed from 5pm Monday 23 March until further notice. We do look forward to inviting people to once again enjoy these outstanding monuments as soon as we are able.

Overview

Final remains of a significant waterfront fortress

Though it has largely been swallowed up by the modern-day city, you can still get a sense of Newport Castle’s scale by viewing it from the bridge across the River Usk. From here, its central tower with water dock come into view, flanked by two further towers which mark the fortress’s north and south ends.

The castle’s curtain wall was originally surrounded by a deep moat, which was filled with water at high tide – a key benefit of its riverside location. Built in the 14th century, it replaced an earlier motte-and-bailey castle close to the cathedral on Stow Hill.