St David’s Cathedral, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
St David’s Cathedral stands in the smallest city in Britain, on the most westerly point in Wales; the cathedral gives the community it’s city status, otherwise, with a population of roughly 1,600 it would be regarded as a village. It’s an attractive place, set amidst beautiful scenery and the cathedral, in its quieter moments, must surely be one of the most tranquil places on earth. It has an immense history, as there’s been a church of some sort on the site since the 6th century and it is the resting place of St David.
The architecture is of course beautiful, with elaborate stone carvings and incredible fan vaulted ceilings; there are four chapels, including the Becket Chapel, dating back to 1171 and once visited by Henry II for Mass; of note is the intricate stained glass rose window, the nave ceiling carved from Welsh oak in the 1530s (the only one of its kind in Britain), and the rare medieval floor tiles in the Cathedral Quire. You can see St David’s tomb, and the Gothic carved stone screen decorated with tiny human heads; go to the Treasury and you’ll find some rather fancy rings on display, along with the Bishop’s staffs and a Victorian cope. Sit for a moment in the hallowed ambience of the cloister before you head to the Refectory Café for a pot of tea and a nice piece of cake.
Check the website for the latest opening times
T: 01437 720202 All information correct at the time of writing