Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny, like many Welsh border town’s has had a chequered past and its fortunes have waxed and waned over the years. This is due to the proximity to the border with England and the subsequent battles that ensued against Saxons, Normans and the English, Abergavenny, was also affected by the struggles of Owain Glyndwr in his bid to gain supremacy over the English All these encounters have left their marks on the border towns.
Abergavenny was noted in the past for its flannel production and as a spa town. These days it is as centre for good food and gastronomy that Abergavenny is famous. The town now hosts the most important gastronomic event in Wales. The Abergavenny food Festival which is held, usually in the third week of September.
The town has a market and a Norman castle although this took a pounding during the Civil War it is still worth a visit. Other sites include St Mary’s Church and tithe barn St Marys Church was originally part of a Priory, though Henry VIII dissolved this.
The town sits in the Valley of the River Usk. It is surrounded on three sides by the Black Mountains, to the south-west is Blorenge, Ysgyryd Fawr the northeast and Sugarloaf to the North West.
The area is great for walks and cycling and Abergavenny is a good base for exploring. There is a festival of cycling in July and for walkers there is the South Wales three Peaks trial, which is held in March.
The Surrounding countryside is beautiful with the Usk Valley and the Vale of a Ewyas. Other nearby areas worth a visit are the villages of Crickhowell, and Llangattock these two villages on opposing sides of the river Usk are connected by an unusual 17th-century Stonebridge famous for having 12 arches on one side and 13 the other, nearby there is the remains of an Iron Age fort.
Activities in Abergavenny
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