Gwynedd

Gwynedd is a county and historic principality in north-west Wales. It covers a large rural region that includes Snowdonia National Park and the Llŷn Peninsula, with a coastline along Cardigan Bay. The county’s population is concentrated in towns such as Caernarfon, Bangor, Porthmadog and Dolgellau, while much of the area remains sparsely populated.

Historically, Gwynedd refers to the early medieval kingdom of Gwynedd, a dominant Welsh polity from the 6th to 13th centuries. Its rulers included figures like Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. The kingdom diminished after Edward I's conquest and the subsequent incorporation into the English crown. The name later persisted in administrative use.

Modern Gwynedd as a principal area of Wales is governed by Gwynedd Council, with Caernarfon serving as the administrative center and Bangor as a major urban center. The area is one of the most Welsh-speaking parts of Wales, with Welsh widely used in education, media and daily life.

Economy is driven by tourism, agriculture and some manufacturing, with tourism centered on Snowdonia, coastal towns and historic sites such as Caernarfon Castle. The landscape supports outdoor recreation, hiking, and watersports. Cultural life includes a strong Welsh-language tradition and events such as eisteddfodau, music and literature.

Notable features include Snowdonia’s mountains, the Welsh-language heartland, and historic castles.