Conwy is in North Wales. It has a population of around 115,000 and covers approximately 112,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Denbighshire, Gwynedd.
Conwy County Borough is named after the River Conwy (Afon Conwy in Welsh), which flows through it and out into Colwyn Bay (Bae Colwyn). Snowdonia National Park covers a third of the county and within it rises Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest mountain in Wales. Most of the counties population lives in the coastal towns, among them Llandudno, which is the most popular seaside holiday resort town in Wales. The market town of Conwy also attracts many visitors and is noted for its 13th century town walls with towers and the castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy) was built largely from the local grey stone, with more colourful sandstone from further afield used for carved details such as windows. Overlooking the Conwy Estuary, the castle provides excellent views and forms part of the dramatic landscape.
The town of Conwy has many other historic buildings and is among the best medieval towns in the world. Built during the 14th century, Aberconwy House is considered to be the earliest surviving town house in Wales. The history of the timber and stone built merchants house is evoked by the rooms each being designed with interior furnishings reflecting either the Jacobean, Georgian or Victorian period. The best example of an Elizabethan town house in Britain, Plas Mawr was built during the 16th century for Robert Wynn, a prominent Welsh merchant. The house interior is decorated with beautifully restored ornamental plasterwork, woodwork and original period furniture. Visitors can learn about life and work in the house for people during the Tudor period.
