The character of Arthur, between myth and reality
Arthur Pendragon is said to have been born in 470 in Tintagel, England. There are several versions: he was raised by Merlin as a knight, or for some, he was raised with the parents of Keu - a future knight of the Round Table. Arthur is said to have always considered him his older brother. Merlin, also known as Merlin the Enchanter, is a prophet, close to nature. He grew up in Carmarthen. According to one of the many legends, Merlin now lives on Bardsey Island..
Although there is no proof of Arthur's real existence, many historians agree that this mythical character is the sum of many living Welsh heroes, who led extraordinary battles against the English. So Arthur is not one, but many. Originally, there was a military leader who rallied the Celts to defeat the Saxons in the 6th century. Collective memory subsequently took hold of the character, giving rise to a veritable superman whose exploits spanned the centuries, certainly echoing the deeds of other warriors, perhaps descendants of the same name. Thus was born Arthur.
The Excalibur sword: the trigger
After the death of Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father, there are no legitimate successors - since Arthur has been hidden away. Many nobles fight for the throne. One evening, a sword mysteriously appears in a block of stone. The blade states that only the rightful king can remove the sword. It was Arthur, as a teenager, who succeeded in removing it.
Today, to see a replica of Excalibur, set in its own rock, you'll have to go to the shores of Llangorse Lake, in the Brecon Beacons.
However, for some, the origin of Excalibur is different. It was not pulled from a rock, but given to Arthur directly, by the Lady of the Lake - also known as the Vivian fairy. She plays a major role in Arthur's legend, as she not only gives him the sword, but is also Merlin's companion and Lancelot's adoptive mother.
When Arthur died, the sword was thrown into a lake: the Lake of Llyn Dinas. It is said that the real throne of Great Britain lies buried in the lake, waiting for a young man to climb a certain rock and resurface. You can always give it a try - you never know!
Another legend claims that the mythical sword Excalibur was thrown into this lake, and that the Knights of the Round Table live in a nearby cave. They'll come out when the country needs them to defend itself! All this is dominated by Mount Yr Aran, almost 750 metres high. A beautiful journey into nature and Celtic legends.
Arthur, the new king. Once king, Arthur married Guinevere, with whom he had a son. But his most famous child was Mordred, born of a relationship with Arthur's half-sister Morgana.
There are several versions of his death: the best known is that he surprised Guinevere with Lancelot. Furious, he demanded that Guinevere be burned alive. Lancelot came to her rescue and was hunted down in a battle between the Knights of the Round Table.
Some say that Arthur didn't die there, but went to take refuge on the island of Avalon. However, his grave is thought to have been found at Glastonbury.
The quest for the Grail
Arthur will surround himself with faithful knights who will all sit around the Round Table. The form is highly symbolic, since it implies that everyone is on the same level. Their aim: to guarantee peace and prosperity. But above all, to find the Grail, a vase said to contain the blood of Christ. Whoever possesses it will become immortal. Caerleon is said to have been where King Arthur held his Round Table meetings.
In the footsteps of the Arthurian myth
St Govan's Chapel, in Pembrokeshire. This stone chapel in the cliffs can only be reached by descending 52 steps. It is said to have housed Sire Gauvain, knight of the Round Table, who lived as a hermit at the end of his adventures. Dinas Bran is said to be the last hiding place of the Holy Grail... Arthur's Stone, on the road near Reynoldston on the Gower Peninsula. Arthur's Stone is a fifteen-ton stone resting on six others. However, prior to 1693, this rock was much larger, until an incident shattered it, dropping over ten tons. Mystery still surrounds this event. Countless legends surround the origin of the monument and the supernatural powers attributed to it. Not least that of King Arthur, who, embarrassed by a pebble in his shoe, threw it with force. The stone fell eleven kilometers further onto Cefn Bryn, having accumulated magical powers during its flight.
King Arthur's Labyrinth in Corris is an attraction that takes us through tunnels and caves in the footsteps of the legend. It is said that Huail was beheaded in Ruthin by his rival Arthur, on a Maen Huail stone.
Other Welsh legends
Other legends populate Welsh stories, and you'll find many of them throughout this guide. But some are more famous than others, like that of Lake Bala. One legend has it that a village once stood here. Tegid Foel was a cruel king who lived in opulence and excess in a magnificent palace. The gods tried to send him warnings, but he did not change his behavior. One evening, he organized a great feast, inviting all the important princes of the country. A harpist came to play for the occasion. But during the evening, a bird beckoned the harpist to follow it. The harpist obeyed, left the palace and headed for a hill. The bird sang a sweet melody that lulled the harpist to sleep. When he awoke, a lake had swallowed up the palace.
Or the legend of Mount Cader Idris, where the giant Idris lies buried. Idris was a gifted poet, astronomer and philosopher. It is also said that the mountain is haunted and that anyone who spends a night there becomes a madman or a poet!
