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The historic town of Cardigan is set at the lowest crossing point of the picturesque River Teifi, a mile-and-a-half from the sea. In its 900 year history it has been both the well fortified seat of kings, a booming port and a summertime attraction for thousands of tourists.

With a population of just over 4,000 Cardigan - Aberteifi in Welsh - is a busy market town serving a large, rural community of up to 30,000. Today it is an important shopping and cultural centre.

The town was the birthplace of the National Eisteddfod - the first one was held here in 1176.

Now the world's largest cultural festival, the National Eisteddfod is held annually in towns throughout Wales.

Cardigan is host to a number of important cultural events, including its own Gwyl Fawr Aberteifi each year. The town has its own theatre, the Mwldan, which provides a broad range of live entertainment, exhibitions and the latest films.

The ancient ruins of Cardigan Castle (privately owned) dominate the riverside near the 17th century five-arch stone bridge that spans the Teifi. It is in this area of the river that visitors can still see evidence of the town's maritime history.

Cardigan was a busy port in the 19th century, when the town's international trade links and ideal location brought unprecedented prosperity to the area.

The recently developed Heritage Centre, which chronicles the area's history, is housed in an 18th century warehouse on Teifi Wharf, one of the famous quays of this once thriving port.

Cardigan has a wide range of privately owned and highly individual shops as well as a number of High Street chain stores and supermarkets.

There is a weekly agricultural mart just outside the town and a general market in the vast basement of the town centre Guildhall.

This impressive building also houses a food market. Cardigan also has many pubs, restaurants, hotels and guest houses to suit all tastes.

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