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Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site

Lying in the heart of South Wales, partly within the Brecon Beacons National Park Blaenavon Industrial Landscape is a testament to the human endeavour of miners and ironworkers of the past. The town and Industrial Landscape were awarded World Heritage Site Status by UNESCO in 2000 for the leading role played by the area in the Industrial Revolution during the 19th Century.
At Blaenavon you will find a great choice of site and a wealth of stories.
Closely situated to the M4 and A465, the area is ideally situated for day trips.
Blaenavon Town is a most interesting place to visit with a variety of shops, cafes and historic buildings including St Peters Church (1805), the Workmen's Hall (1895) and the World Heritage Centre the first of its kind in the UK providing the perfect place to start or end a visit.
The Blaenavon Ironworks, built in 1789 is acknowledged as the best preserved Ironworks of its period in the world.
At Big Pit National Coal Museum (UK Museum of the Year 2005), visitors can descend 300 feet below ground and experience a tour with real miners. Above ground there are exciting displays and presentations about the lives of miners.
At Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway you can enjoy train rides taking in views of Garn Lakes and the Cultural landscape.
A variety of guided walks pass historical sites in this mountaintop landscape which inspired the famous novel 'Rape of the Fair Country' by Alexander Cordell.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal passes through the World Heritage Site taking in spectacular views of the landscape and landmarks where walking and boating trips can be arranged.

For further information and opening times please visit www.world-heritage-blaenavon.org.uk or call 01633 648812.