13. Tintagel Castle
Tintagel Castle, perched on a rugged headland in Cornwall, blends dramatic coastal scenery with deep layers of history and legend.
The site has long-standing associations with the legendary King Arthur – in particular the medieval historian Geoffrey of Monmouth identified it in the 12th century as the place of Arthur’s conception – though archaeological evidence relates more to early medieval elite settlement than mythic kings.
The visible medieval fortress was built in the 13th century for Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, likely more for prestige and link to legend than strict defensive purpose.
Beneath the later castle, excavations have revealed remains of a prosperous post-Roman settlement trading with the Mediterranean, with high-quality imported pottery discovered on the headland.
Today the castle stands in partial ruin, its surviving walls and towers clinging to the steep cliffs that fall to the sea. Many come drawn by the Arthurian connection; others by the ancient settlement beneath or simply by the dramatic seaside location.