( of
Cardiganshire (
Ceredigion ) in west
Wales .
The town, founded in
1093 by the Norman
Roger De Montgomery , lies on the
Estuary of the
River Teifi . Attractions in the town include the remains of
Cardigan Castle , a heritage centre, arts centre and a currently under used
Nineteenth Century Guildhall .
In
1176 the castle became the site of the first competitive
Eisteddfod . Cardigan also hosted the National Eisteddfod in
1942 and
1976 . The castle was for many years in private hands and as a result became run down and derelict. The town council itself showed little interest in saving it. However a group of volunteers, and the local Catholic Priest, working separately did raise its profile. Ceredigion Council finally bought it in 2003.
By the early
19th Century over 300 sailing vessels were registered at the port and more than 200 ships were built in the five shipyards.
Cilgerran slate was exported from the port. The river silted up and the port died by the early part of the twentieth century. Plans to dredge it have come to naught over the years.
Cardigan is also the site of Wales' premier Roman Catholic Shrine in Wales. In pre-Reformation times it was known for a statue of the
Virgin Mary , who held a candle whose flame never extinguished.
Cardigan is
Twinned with
Brioude ,
France .
Cardigan Island lies offshore near the town.
