The market town of Brecon is just an hour’s drive north from Cardiff. It is beautifully situated, giving sweeping views of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The town is situated on the River Honddu, giving Brecon it’s Welsh name, Aberhonddu.
Brecon’s history is varied, with a Norman Castle and Benedictine Monastery thought to date back to around 1093. Brecon Cathedral houses the town’s heritage centre, and the military theme is strong here with the South Wales Borderers Museum and Barracks.
It is a traditional Welsh country town and the indoor and outdoor markets provide lots of local colour. With a twice-weekly livestock market and a craft Market held once a month, Brecon is a bustling centre of country commerce.
The Brecknock Museum is housed in the former Shire Hall. Its exhibits include Welsh lovespoons, Roman artefacts and the old 19th century assize court, preserved in all its glory.
Visit in August and take in the music of the annual Brecon Jazz Festival, where the streets come alive with thousands of people and street concerts. Or make the most of the National Park’s wide-open spaces by exploring on foot, on horseback, or on wheels (two or four!).
Must see and do
- Brecon Cathedral, Brecon
- Brecon Mountain Railway, near Merthyr Tydfil
- Brecknock Museum, Brecon
- Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre, Libanus
- South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon