Powis Castle, owned by the National Trust, is located near Welshpool in the heart of the Welsh countryside. It was originally built as a medieval fortress around 1200, but the building as it stands today is a testament to the way in which it has been altered and remodelled from 1600 onwards. The interior is home to thousands of works of art, furnishings and ornaments collected over the course of 400 years.
A visit to Powis Castle is, in fact, a visit to two separate attractions – the castle itself and the world-famous baroque style gardens laid out around it. Add the medieval deer park and you’ve got a combination certain to provide a full and crowded day out for all the family.
The Clive Museum, housed within Castle Powis, is home to the largest private collection of artefacts from India in the UK. The stunning items on show include textiles, gold, weapons, armour and jewellery dating from the 18th Century.
Other collections of art from around the world and throughout history are displayed across the whole of Powis Castle. Highlights include a portrait of Lady Henrietta by Joshua Reynolds, an illuminated Book of Hours dating from the 15th Century and the world-famous View of Verona, painted by Bernardo Bellotto.
The dramatic terraced gardens are packed with rare flowers from around the world, and wildlife you’re likely to spot while exploring the wider grounds includes deer, peacocks, birds of prey, woodpeckers and grass snakes.
