Spectacular location...

Aberystwyth is surrounded on three sides by some of the most glorious countryside in Great Britain -the Cambrian Mountains and the Rheidol Valley - which you can explore on one of Wales's Great Little Trains: the Vale of Rheidol Railway, not to mention Ceredigion's Heritage Coast and Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation as well as one of the most concentrated collections of award-winning beaches in the UK.

Historic past...

An original castle was built by invading Norman forces far to the south of the site of the existing castle ruins. The original fortifications would probably have been much nearer to the mouth of the river Ystwyth ("Aber Ystwyth" in Welsh means mouth of the river Ystwyth) than are the ruins of the later, stone-built castle, that remain. The academic Leopold Kohr, author of "Is Wales Viable?" argued Aberystwyth to be a fine example of a small city-state.

Cultured present...

Although its origins stemmed from an intent to subdue the Welsh people, Aberystwyth became the home of some of the most important institutions for and of Wales.

The very first college of the University of Wales was established at Aberystwyth as was the very first Welsh medium Primary School. The University of Wales Aberystwyth now encompasses the Institute for Rural Sciences.

Aberystwyth also houses the National Library of Wales - where many of the greatest literary treasures of Wales and the other Celtic countries are securely stored, including the illuminated "Black Book of Carmarthen", the oldest surviving manuscript written in the Welsh language. During the Second World War some of Britain's most precious treasures were stored underground in the National Library's vaults.

Many other of Wales's national institutions and leading organizations are based at Aberystwyth, including:

• The Welsh League of Youth;
• The Farmers' Union of Wales;
• The Union of Welsh Teachers;
• The Welsh Language Society;
• The Association of Learners of Welsh;
• The Welsh Books Council;
• The Welsh Pony and Cob Society;
• Menter a Busnes (Enterprise & Business);
• The Centre for Performance Research;
• The Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies;
• The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales.