Llandaff Cathedral

Nothing remind more of my first year of University quite like Llandaff Cathedral. It is a lovely place to go and sit and take in the beautiful view of only one of two Catholic Cathedrals in Cardiff. After a heavy night out we would take a trip to the local shop and then sit in the Cathedral grounds and try and get through the hangover. Believe or not the performances of the choir which we could hear echoing through the grounds would make us feel slightly better and during the winter time (nearer to Christmas) it is definitely worth taking a trip.
Like Tanya I also visited for a performance of Handel who is my absolute favourite composer and the acoustics in the Cathedral made the performance sound tremendous. There is so much history in Llandaff Cathedral and if you’re like me and a bit of a culture junkie, the Llandaff Cathedral is definitely worth visiting.

Built in the 12^th century over the site of an earlier church, Llandaff Cathedral is one of two cathedrals in Cardiff — the other is the Roman Catholic Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral in Charles Street in the city centre.
Over the years, the cathedral suffered damage many times — during the English Civil War it was overrun by Parliamentarian troops, during the second world war a landmine was dropped nearby during the Cardiff Blitz, and in 2007 the cathedral was hit by a severe lightning strike! Despite all of this, it still stands — and while the building has been extensively restored many times, you can still find a standing Celtic cross which reveals the fact that there was Christian worship at the site even in pre-​Norman times (near the door of the Chapter House).
The cathedral as it stands today is beautiful, and is set amongst tranquil, well-​kept grounds and a graveyard. You can get tickets for choral performances there, and the acoustics are impressive.
There’s also a small cathedral shop (open 10am-​4pm) where you can pick up CDs of the Cathedral choir, as well as cards, gifts for occasions such as Christenings and Confirmations, Welsh jewellery, and other small items such as cathedral-​themed notepads, pens, tea towels, and pens.

I shall tell you an interesting fact about Llandaff Cathedral: It’s impossible to paint.
Why? I hear you asking. Because, due to the lie of the land and mistakes during the build, the main building is not built as the correct angle when adjoining the entrance. So, if you were to try and paint it, it will always come out looking wonky, no matter how much you hold up your pencil to check the angles.
There you go, you learn something new every day, don’t you!
I recently went to Llandaff Cathedral to see a performance of Handel’s Messiah at Easter time, and it was truly spectacular. The acoustics in the building are famously good, and the atmosphere are awe inspiring, while remaining somehow intimate.
My word of warning, should you go there to see a concert, make sure you get their early/​book the middle seats: the seats on either side past the aisles have their view seriously blocked by pillars.

Llandaff Cathedral is a lovely building and a good place to visit but I feel I should warn that it’s no Westminster or Salisbury. In fact its quite small, but beautifully formed. Its quite eery inside, though I find most religious buildings a bit creepy, but the history is really interested and I was interested to find out that it survived a bomb being dropped on it during the war.
The main reason for it fame however is its organ and choirs. I would recommend that if you are ever planning a visit then you should try and plan it to coincide with a choral performance. And get there early because parking can be a nightmare.
A definite must experience is the Christmas performances they do. Nothing will put you in the mood for the holidays like listening to the choir sing carols.

Having recently visited Wales for the first time I wanted to get a good bit of history and culture in the few days I was there. Llandaff Cathedral was definitely a high-​point. With beautiful architecture and old, medieval style doors, the Cathedral is both welcoming and eerie. Features inside include a modern installation and organ as well as a memorial section for members of the Welsh Regiment. Surrounded by lush green scenery the building is impressive in its appearance inside and out.

I can’t quite believe I’m reviewing a cathedral, but this building is truly stunning (as a child I actually believed it to be a fairy castle)! The moment you set eyes on Llandaff Cathedral you know it’s something special, and what’s particularly lovely about this Cathedral is its many different visual perspectives. Be it through the trees, over the river, or standing at the entrance with it looming over you, this building never fails to impress.
Once inside you are immediately confronted with a gigantic statue of Christ by the sculptor Epstein, which hangs in the center. Whilst this statue has divided opinion amongst critics and visitors alike, you cannot truly claim that you’ve ever seen anything like it before.
Such is the fame of Llandaff Cathedral that the Magic of Wales shop in Disney’s Epcot actually sells postcards of this famous Llandaff site (you learn something new everyday). You don’t however have to venture over to Florida if you’re after a postcard, the cathedral does have a small shop which in addition to postcards, sells things such as hymn books, and information guides concerning Llandaff Cathedral. No matter what your religious beliefs, if you’re visiting Cardiff this is one site which is definitely worth a visit.