SEPTEMBER 2019 businesstravelerusa.com56
DESTINATIONS
in Downton Abbey-era style and currently also open to the public.
The buildings of St. Fagans are mostly original period dwellings,
work and worship places and have been transported intact from their
original locations to be preserved and visited within the tranquility of
the museum’s 100 walkable acres of manicured parkland – so a visit to
Saint Fagans is actually a visit to over 40 mini museums.The buildings include a working black-
smith forge, a potter, a weaver, miller and
a clog maker. There are also two working
water mills – a flour mill and a woolen mill
where visitors can shop for traditional crafts
including Welsh shawls and other woolen
goods made on centuries-old looms, as well
as baked goods made on site with fresh local-
ly sourced ingredients. The museum complex
is large enough for an afternoon outing or a
briefer visit. The main museum building, anA visit to Saint Fagans
is actually a visit
to over 40 mini
museumsinterpretive center, has reopened
after enhanced visitor upgrades,
and new VIP experiences are
also on offer.HORIZONS SING
Also worth a visit are the Na-
tional Assembly of Wales, where
Wales governs itself, and the
Wales Millennia Centre, located
in the heart of Cardiff Bay. The
massive entertainment complex
covers 4.7 acres and comprises
one large theatre and two small-
er venues as well as shops and lively
bars and restaurants.
The monumental inscription
on the front of the dome reads in
English, “In These Stones, Horizons Sing.” The Welsh is translated,
“Creating Truth Like Glass From Inspiration's Furnace.” Both are
the words of Welsh writer Gwyneth Lewis, who was the inaugural
National Poet of Wales from 2005-2006.
“I wanted the words to reflect the architecture of the building,”
Lewis has said in her blog. “Its copper dome reminded me of the
furnaces from Welsh industrial heritage and also Ceridwen's cauldron,
from which the early poet Taliesin received his inspiration ('awen').
'Awen' suggests both poetic inspiration and the general creative vision
by which people and societies form their aspirations.”
Other visit-worthy venues around Cardiff include the Royal Mint
Experience where money is made and which offers VIP meeting space
and alfresco dinner offerings for 250 people in its Piazza. And a half
hour outside Cardiff, there’s the legendary Penderyn Whisky Factory,
Wales’ only distillery, famed for it its Single Malt Whisky. Here blei-
sure travelers or VIP incentive groups can join a master class and make
some of their own "Welsh Gold." BT^CLOCKWISE:
Victorian Arcades;
Old shops at
Saint Fagans
National Museum
of History;
Millennium Centre