See our Wales Map for a much larger map with cities and attractions marked.

Wales

Wales is one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. It is located in the southwest of the island of Great Britain and is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel to the southwest, and the Irish Sea to the west and north.

Wales is officially bilingual; it is required by law to use both Welsh (a Celtic language) and English on all public signs. However, only 20 percent of the population of Wales speaks any Welsh, and only a small minority speaks Welsh exclusively. Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales, the currency is pounds sterling, and the patron saint of Wales is St. David, a 6th-century Celtic monk.

Wales boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain, and is also home to many historical and religious sites of interest. Many cultures and faiths have left their mark in Wales — prehistoric peoples built stone circles; Celts honored sacred wells and other holy places; Romans built temples and amphitheaters; medieval Christians built monasteries, churches and cathedrals; Normans built castles and churches; and modern Protestants and people of other faiths have added religious sites of their own.

Today, Wales is a predominately Protestant country. Like Scotland but unlike England, the majority denomination of Wales is Presbyterian. The next most popular is the Church in Wales, which is part of the Anglican Communion.

Wales Guide

English Name:	Wales
Local Name:	Cymru
Time Zone:	GMT
Calling Code:	44
Currency:	British pound (GBP)
Area:	20,779 sq km
Population:	3 million
Languages:	English (official); Welsh (official; not as widely spoken)
Religions:	Primarily Presbyterian Christianity

	Wales Sacred Sites Index Browse our illustrated index of sacred sites and religious places
	Wales Map A detailed interactive map of Wales with major cities and religious sites marked, plus links to travel maps and more
	Wales Books A hand-selected gallery of books on Wales specially chosen for Sacred Destinations readers
	Wales Photo Gallery Explore our large collection of quality photos from Wales
	Wales Timeline See the history of Wales at a glance
	Religion in Wales An overview of the primary religions of modern Wales.

Featured Destinations in Wales (List All Destinations)

St. Non's Chapel

St Davids

This small chapel ruin is picturesquely located in a field above St. Non's Bay on the Welsh coast. It is said to mark the site where St. Non gave birth to St. David around 500 AD.

St. David's Cathedral

St Davids

Founded in the 7th century, St. David's Cathedral in Wales was a major pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages thanks to its relics of St. David (Dewi).

Tintern Abbey

The second-oldest Cistercian monastery in Britain, Tintern Abbey stands in picturesque ruins on the southeastern border of Wales.

Wales City Guides

St Davids
Home to just 1,800 residents, St Davids' scenic seaside position, coastal walking trails, powerful waves and sandy beaches make it a popular travel destination. But it is the cathedral, not the surf, that has attracted millions of pilgrims to this remote spot since the Middle Ages and continues to draw crowds today.