Not far from Cardiff is a fabulous Roman Town. It is an archaeologist dream. It has shops, a temple, a Basilica Forum (I don't know either but I think it's like their main town square). So off we went on Tuesday to visit Caerwent Roman Town.
It was a beautiful sunny day and the Roman Town is in a quiet village with a dedicated car park, toilets and picnic tables. It is totally safe for children and Bear loved it. Each area has an information board and map. It is all suitable for buggy's too.
![Caerwent Roman Town - A Toddler Explores ruins in squares, low walls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5zRqZRbCPskt5FlafnE4do_o1FpRrseSfr8_ZGsVYBqRrNO8FjHikeFzTYpWg29hTy2HWhCZKwkEtK0h2PnSgxTyNlyx_Qg_Xk41CA7nq4_mZOQFnN-HknjPsaSxjE6xhI83MExjd_I/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+shops.jpg) |
The shops
|
Caerwent has so much for everyone. The history of the ruins is described on the explanation boards and it is just a great open space for toddlers to have fun. Oh and it's free.
![Caerwent Roman Town - A Toddler Explores toddler sitting on roman wall](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60DuXgZWQGIaydrO5KM8fVy_CLVYAlswTLzwcvf9KNeFcyD102NLQCerO56O3k-NaxaZGaSC40z8zQNHXYgm7Q0h2lBfyjnGSzkAflS-F1gjkJjwZvOcZxbrhNjWkWQzTDSFUzV7A84w/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+sitting.jpg) |
It has great places to sit.... |
![Toddler amongst ruins](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNNQsAsY21hI7ljUoi-Fq24Ajj4hjd8OdtR0JufmuS_PpNAJJsNyPJXfPgcoa5_bkF2_zl0MFR7qgcnMPQ70u7vScTrM3XIMO30CnsCiauHzG2yYod5lK2iUUUUSp-0tG9Rg1XmaKuc0/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+exploring.jpg) |
To investigate........ |
![toddler running on walls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXKlUh1RqhAP3MnAWiwVhKEwO_vXSa5kbXVxi2VHVXMS0bQIXX1uTPcjUzmLnz6UAU9c5vKtVHpmkA0xn96v-hv2kJfyJJD21vkhObmkOthZkkDGwpDuQdLf-0A9ODREY0SfHBaXcG2Y/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+balancing.jpg) |
To run....... |
![toddler and man talking amongst the ruins](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_jupnCoGjdPz6vqdh5AJUlFSpzzSD1yez2-iarhjKf0VMs__Iwaf2JgIJS-5-DVjaT2t4svIJ8tKoPHVX0jxv5qKkUTCWuPfWDGeySTBfki1UkkfRQHzqEmSU7gUXZabjYv0wcjUNxM/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+forum+Basillica.jpg) |
To discuss.... |
![toddler looking straight at camera](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SlzcC-8rlSRnWQFxtOK4tJa3d_iNnwrW9WGOf3mncVwYYPFytLUi5otH_qN3FBIiIHRD69IX13POfdpRsl6ukkf5Li55Qbxuf4tjBdPNo-TgfgXJ-26ZZ73oJSVDTecN02wH9wBYizg/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+looking+gorgeous.jpg) |
To think.... |
![toddler running towards camera](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyBmkPMkjHoqlBVSZ1Vvfr7tOj5RgUwttglWel8WYoax8w69LTD5h65WPUuyIflMurNDmDtEwRFwzUOamHGoqK8_7apHn3KIRG023ar1zPkJh2T3pWyuRfwN6c0IWyJhBGX2oOVR0Dj4/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+running.jpg) |
To run some more.... |
![toddler by ruins pointing](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3Bw7xwVz__25yx6xiiy_geQdwXcsFoacrk-AQNAyTQboNMZprzYru43VV-S4-XBQ_Vshia0dlG1iABhNKz8AytcikuQLz3cQPQ94DXP8L4sNwlqHmNTnFEQ_xKDRhm_T9VT3wN_0Vuk/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+pointing.jpg) |
To point..... |
![Adult with toddler, picking him up to place amongst the ruins](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7a3SzfRC-TNbMlwZ9Q_ehyvbLIy6yyjR8ByIwFEwenWRdfbMcgPmpBCk2P_n0iTjSh4micl7UcI-n5KzBY_xbl5e4l0ifv0T6g_0cfQk6_Vyda6xCovtNCu9XZyRrpNs20vFjszMn5oA/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+placing+in+temple.jpg) |
To Pose?... |
![collage of toddler climbing over low wall](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinQ5iRwIiZaBbjAoC_sp0-EJRjt7JVTQvsZxdKVfng-y37EYqrMLtZt7QtnsMT2p2O5N4Ccmqu2s-PdV0pYlBDkDNXsOWdhlZNL5ghkNhIXBYh7oHk7sArzUt01psbfwI-COIQoyy8OY/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+temple+collage.jpg) |
Bear stand still and look at Nanny! No! I'm off...... |
![Roman ruins, low walls](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx43FGGA7oTcp-N3p4ePOSm71JPaJs5DG0VyZaotBS96nqlcolUIfsx_Do6an8iMxjIUc8ca9OQv4H-mKsd-lt37qJJnPj9zH3XO5OKrUMbXJ-hg3BMUewl-_P4ySIkLe9iX4hdBmpE8s/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+temple.jpg) |
The Temple |
Just at the other end of the village are the Roman Town walls. These are so well preserved and run along the roadside and around one side of the village.
We had spent nearly two hours here and Bear was tired so we didn't follow the walls to the end. We bounced the buggy down some steps and walked along a green lane towards the church. The green lane takes you back to the main road and the memorial but we climbed over a stone stile into the churchyard. We were looking for a Roman altar and another carved stone. We found them in the Church, just inside the door. There is an explanation board on the wall.
![wooden gate leading to grass path between two hedges](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7oNmPkUBYn2N1UjWiP1HnVA7dFDOn54rbQzsW1vkjkzRl5xvaH06cLO3-zrVR3w7aDNBRfGCQpuMTjPG9lrG5OGgfpCNANsNftPe8Zp74AXDEWwWH1VMD-SXqBR49Ngz1lo8Ofr3Jgk/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+lane.jpg) |
The green lane near the church |
![church tower](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXv-SQNeHOkyAC_yho5YYeRJxZfr4K31k-1J_ro7UJpFnVJHiLl-mCqHJMBAFU5ZTevpOAz67_E78ebL36_AbZePkTxOc2lIZHpzCrjPR2AZR9vH3IDPuYI4ss6mTONeOWvHwB1w6Qu0/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+church.jpg) |
The church bells ring out each hour |
![roman stone with words carved into it](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivINaay5bKeTylFRx6avoVKxYkDe_dT04kxyXDMxWbGqScCcH6VBp6OG8JXGO3ieIbaBIQ1HxnjgS1mplTgN2kK0Q9Ip-YzrK0fD2cSxTHIRoUVmILTN2oji_DPUHm66h2fVXG797W3XM/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+roman+alter.jpg) |
The Altar |
The altar reads;
To the god Mars Ocelus, Aelius Augustinus, optio willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.
An optio was a sub-centurion.
The above stone is the base of a statue and it reads;
To Tiberius Claudius Paulinus, once commander of the second Augustan Legion, next proconsul of the province of Gallia Narbonensis, now imperial governor of the province of Lugdunensis; by decree of the council of the community of the state of the Silures.
![explanation board](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhItUon_85sXefOmSKx2u9O4C87LSuOzHt3TK4jhrFBNoOtPdJGBzZq0KS9gzhQycCET8kQgmKI7T4Uf-RdigtqOGEPPXxIoeHUC3EnTFybAZGyPv9BEdhgNqaTgIhp9zkW4DdPS2xOQ/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+explanation+board.jpg) |
The explanation board in the church |
![picnic tables and explanation boards](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVhs2s63gkcQmKDrqHTVRY3I7y-8skyWIJsj1q2o_S9AkgyT7m9lD9zkorgFwsUrU2XqanxVs7fVmdWNyKh-R_HYKidR_UaTo1WyPNmPnMjd0cTNrYCtccsKTdl9U37AD-cXAAcMRRuY/s1600/Caerwent+A+Roman+Town+-+A+Toddler+Explores+collage+2.jpg) |
Picnic tables and more explanation boards by the car park |
The site is maintained by CADW and entrance is free. It really is worth a visit. Bear loved it and so did we.
Follow me on
Bloglovin |
Facebook |
Twitter
This looks fab and it looks like you had a lovely day out, I've never been, will have to visit one day!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place and not too far. Great for little ones to explore too
Delete