Historic environment

We want to make the historic environment accessible to all.

What is the historic environment?

It includes:

• Historic buildings.
• Ancient monuments, such as castles, abbeys, standing stones and industrial remains.
• Shipwreck sites.
• Archaeological sites.
• Historic parks, gardens and landscapes.

Facts and figures

In Wales, there are:

• 3 World Heritage sites.
• 34,000 scheduled monuments and listed buildings.
• 428 registered historic landscapes, parks and gardens.
• 127 sites in the care of Cadw.
• 4,300 maritime heritage assets.
• 519 conservation areas.

Cadw

Cadw is the Welsh Government's historic environment service and sponsors the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Cadw works to:

• Conserve Wales's heritage.
• Help people understand and care about their history.
• Help sustain the distinctive character of Wales.
• Help make a real difference to people's wellbeing in Wales.

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

The Royal Commission surveys, records and explains buildings and archaeology and makes information available to the public on line and in its library in Aberystwyth.