Open Doors Llangollen

Llangollen is opening its doors for the first time this year, when the annual heritage event comes to the town on 19 and 20 September.

All places are open to the public free of charge and a range of walks and tours have been organised to provide a full and interesting event for everyone. Even the parking is free!

Y Capel Tourist Information Centre is your point of contact during the weekend and the library upstairs has a display showing how the building has changed over the years. Llangollen Museum of Local History has an extensive collection of exhibits from the Iron Age to 20th century.

You can visit the churches and chapels in and around Llangollen. At St Collen’s church hall there is a display of photographs depicting Llangollen ‘past and present’.

Other buildings of particular interest are Plas Newydd, the home of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’, and the Royal International Pavilion, home to the International Musical Eisteddfod. Here you can view a range of exhibitions including a history of the Eisteddfod and some Llangollen Pottery.

Around Llangollen you can visit Valle Crucis Abbey where a story teller will regale you with tales and music. At Siambr Wen you can view some monumental tombstones. Take a walk to Castell Dinas Bran to view this medieval castle – you may need your walking boots!

In Llangollen take a town trail with ‘Lady of Llangollen’ Sarah Ponsonby, or discover some other local characters on a ‘Living History’ tour of Llangollen. Learn more about the canal with a walk from the pump house to the wharf – you can then walk back or take the train!

Ever wanted to know what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ at the International Musical Eisteddfod? Then join one of the tours at the Royal International Pavilion.

Cythia Burek, Professor of Geoconservation at the University of Chester will be looking at the buildings of Llangollen with geology in mind – book onto the tour and discover the stones used to build this historic town.

And if that isn’t enough for you to do, there is an extensive range of exhibitions including basket weaving in Plas Newydd, an exhibition about Llantysilio Tramway at the Museum. A talk about Llangollen Pottery in The Hand Hotel, with a display at the Royal International Pavilion.

To request your free guidebook or to book on to the many walks and tours, please phone 01978 860828 or email heritageinitiative@denbighshire.gov.uk.

For up-to-date information about Open Doors Denbighshire visit the website www.opendoorsdenbighshire.org.uk. Open Doors is also taking place in Denbigh on 12 and 13, and in Ruthin on 26 and 27 September.

European Heritage Days are an initiative of the Council of Europe. ‘Open Doors’ is co-ordinated by the Civic Trust for Wales whose partners organise parallel events in England and Scotland. The initiative was launched in 1991 and last year over 20 million people visited all the participating sites throughout Europe.