Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, England, is a castle of kings and a legendary English landmark rich in history and heritage. Complete with a stunning England location and awe-inspiring remains, Tintagel Castle is a must on your British sightseeing trip with the Great British Heritage Pass.

Tintagel Castle is a place of magical mystery, legends, and romance, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur and linked to the doomed love affair between Tristan and Isolde.  It is located on one of England’s most dramatic coastlines, adding to the beauty and magic of its surroundings.

At Tintagel Castle you can listen to a magical mystery audio visual tour entitled ‘Searching for King Arthur,’ which introduces you to the castle, its legends and history.  Imagine the castle as it was during King Arthur’s time and find yourself immersed in history.

You can explore this 13th century castle and breathtaking surrounds at your leisure.  Steep stone steps, stout walls, and rugged windswept cliff edges encircle the Great Hall, which is where Richard, Earl of Cornwall, who had this castle built, once feasted. 

It is believed that Tintagel Castle was a trading settlement between Celtic kings during the 5th and 6th centuries.  King Mark was one of these kings, whose nephew Tristan fell in love with Isolde.

There are many other legends and mysteries surrounding Tintagel, one which was discovered in June of 1998 during excavations.  A 1,500 year old piece of slate was discovered on which there were two Latin inscriptions.  The second inscription reads, “'Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had [this] made.” Who Artognou was remains to be discovered! 

Although little remains of Tintagel Castle today, you can still discover the legends of Tintagel for yourself.

Planning your visit to Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle is open daily except for December 24 – 26 and January 1. From April 1 to September 30 it is open from 10.00 until 18.00; during October it is open from 10.00 until 17.00 and from November 1 until March 31 it is open from 10.00 until 16.00.