Interesting Facts About Wales – 15+ Fun Welsh Facts

In this post we’ll share some interesting facts about Wales. The country with incredible culture and the most number of castles in the entire world. To begin with, many wonder if Wales is a country, yes! Wales is a part of the United Kingdom as well as Great Britain. Another fun fact is that it is the second smallest country in the UK.

If you are a traveler and love to visit interesting places, this one is for you. We’ll answer the basics and some questions far beyond what is the capital of Wales. Before planning a trip, it’s good to know a little about the place. Here are some cool and fun facts about Wales.

Is Wales a Country?

People often ask “is Wales a country?”. Yes, Wales is a country. We’ll explain more in the section below but Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It’s the second largest member of the United Kingdom but certainly less well known than the other members. This lesser known country offers an incredible coast, endless castles and so much more.

Is Wales a part of England or Scotland?

A lot of people get confused about Wales, whether it is a country or a part of some other country. Wales is basically a part of both the United Kingdom and Great Britain. A fun fact about Wales is that it is not a part of England or Scotland. Just like the other countries, Wales is also a country that makes up the United Kingdom.

What is the capital of Wales?

The capital of Wales is Cardiff. As a matter of fact, it is the largest city in Wales and the eleventh largest city in the United Kingdom. Among tourists, Cardiff is the most popular city to visit in Wales. The capital of Wales generates great revenue from the tourists. In 2017, 21.3 million tourists visited Cardiff.

The climate of the city is different as compared to the other cities in the UK. During summers, days are generally warm and sunny, however, the average temperature is around 22 °C. Winter season, on the other hand, is fairly wet and cold. The average temperatures in winter are between 4 to 6°C. It rarely goes below zero.

The city of Cardiff is spread over an area of 140.3 square kilometers. The Cardiff population is ~335,000 people. Which by the way is the most of any city in Wales.

Longest place name in the world?

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on the Isle of Anglesey is 58 characters long and the name of a place! Many think it’s the longest place name in the world but it’s not, believe it or not. Also, this place really does exist, I’ve been there and took that photo.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch meaning is below, let’s not even try and get started with the pronunciation of it. To pronounce it is a feat in itself and knowing Welsh helps.

Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave.

Try and say this or the Welsh version a few times fast…

Seven Wonders of Wales

Wales is home to a number of landmarks. You can’t discuss facts bout Wales without mentioning the Seven Wonders. Each one of them is unique and attracts tourists in large numbers. The seven most famous among them are the seven wonders of Wales.

They are famous in the entire world and as a matter of fact, there is a poem about them. It makes it easier to remember the names of all of them. Following is the list of seven wonders of Wales.

• Snowdon
• Gresford Bells
• Overton Yew Trees
• Pistyll Rhaeadr
• St Giles’ Church
• Llangollen Bridge
• St Winefride’s Well

If you ever in the country or planning to visit in the near future, make sure you witness the beauty of all these landmarks. All of these is located are the northern part of Wales.

What language do they speak in Wales?

Welsh is the native language of Wales, however, only thirty percent of the residents of the city can speak the language. The numbers were even worse in the past. As per the 2011 census, only nineteen percent of the population could speak Welsh. English is also spoken in the country but the accent is a little different and it is Welsh English.

When did Wales Join Great Britain?

Great Britain is basically an Island and Wales has been a part of it since its existence. But they were not officially together back then. In 1542, England conquered Wales and it became officially a part of it.

Culture in Wales

Wales, as compared to the other countries in Great Britain, has a distinct culture. The country has its own language, customs, holidays, and music. They speak Welsh and Welsh English in Wales. Talking about religion, the largest religion in the country is Christianity and it takes up almost 58% of the entire population.

The People of the country are also into arts and Wales has been known for a number of world-class artists over the years. Other than that, Wales is also known for a number of pottery production sites.

Wales, when it comes to food, Wales has a variety of interesting dishes. The Welsh Rarebit being a delicious example. Much of the cuisine is similar to that of England, which is not much of a surprise. Wales is famous for its lamb, it’s a favorite of the people and a famous export of the country.

What are the popular sports in Wales?

Sports have a significant place in Welsh culture. The most popular sports in the country are association football and rugby union. Wales competes at international levels as an independent team in football and rugby world cups. Having an independent team to represent in the world cup is a healthy way to encourage the citizens of the country to participate in sports.

Wales, unlike football and rugby, does not have an independent team to represent in the cricket world cup. They compete as England and Wales cricket team. In fact, whenever England hosts a cricket world cup, Wales also participates as a hosting nation. Even if we look at the most recent edition of the cricket world cup, it was advertised around the world as ‘World Cup 2019, England and Wales’. Both the countries hosted the tournament together.

Wales doesn’t compete as an independent nation in the Olympics as well. They participate as Great Britain. In some other competitions as well, they compete as Great Britain.

What are the popular places in Wales?

Wales is a beautiful country and attracts tourists from all over the world. Talking about the most beautiful places in the country, the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’ earn the number one spot. Each of them is worth paying a visit to. But these are not the only popular places in the country. Wales is home to a number of world-famous tourist destinations.

To name a few, Hye-on-Wye, Conwy Castle, Pembrokeshire Coast, and Brecon Beacons National Park are some of the popular places in Wales.

Cardiff being the capital city of the country also attracts a large number of visitors. It is the largest city in the country and is home to a number of beautiful tourist spots. Wales is the best place for you to visit if you want to spend some time in the lap of nature. Taking a road trip in Wales is a great way to see the beautiful countryside at your own pace.

Pembrokeshire is also a very popular place. The population of Pembrokeshire is just under 125,000 people. It’s a county situated in the southwest of Wales. Pembrokeshire is considered the best place to base yourself to visit the coast. The southwest coast of Wales is considered by many one of the scenic coastlines in the United Kingdom.

What is Wales famous for?

Wales is famous for its castles. There are around six hundred castles in the country, which is more than any other country. Wales is called the ‘castle capital of the world’ due to such a large number of castles. In addition to this, the country is also home flora and fauna.

Wales is one of the best wildlife-watching sites in Europe. As a matter of fact, the total number of sheep in Wales is four times that of humans. A large variety of species of animals and plants reside in Wales and contribute to the beauty of the country.

Wales is also famous for a number of beautiful lakes and mountains. The beauty of nature is at its peak in Wales. All in all, the country displays the beauty of nature in such a way that tourists can’t resist. If you are a nature lover, this is the place for you.

Some fun facts about Wales for kids

• The highest mountain in Wales is Snowdon and has an altitude of 1085 meters above sea level
• Wales has more than 600 castles, which is more than any other country
• The number of sheep in Wales is four times the number of people living in the country
• The letters, K, Q, V, and Z are not there in the Welsh language
• Cardiff is the largest as well as the capital city of Wales
• Sophia Gardens was the first-ever park opened in Cardiff
• Only thirty percent of the population in Wales can speak their native language, Welsh
• Wales has a population of 3.125 million people.