All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S06E13.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AlfaHD_track3_[eng]

(lively music)

- Our journey
begins at the charming,

literary seaside town of Laugharne.

We travel through the rolling hills of

Southern Carmarthenshire, before
crossing through the heart

of the wild Brecon Beacons National Park.

We explore some of the country's

many historic castles
and religious monuments.

Followed by the industrial
coal mining heartlands,

are the South wild valleys.

At Caerphilly, we find fortresses
both ancient and modern,

before we plunge into Cardiff,
Wale's thriving capital city.

The last leg of our journey,
again takes us from old to new,

the Roman ruins had carried on,

standing cheek by jowl
with the city of Newport.

And then on to Tintern
Abbey and Chepstow Castle, a

stone throw from the Severn
Bridges, our final destination.

This beautiful, rolling
farmland is outside

the historic coastal town of Laugharne,

which nestles on the southern edge of

the royal county of Carmarthenshire.

The land here is a rare surviving example

of an open field system, a
medieval land jaring structure

that handed the care and use
of the farmland to local people

Each strip of the larger field,

as seen here, is divided by ditches.

This system is still managed today

by unique town institution,
the Laugharne Corporation,

founded as far back as
1291 by the local lord,

Sir Guy de Brian.

The aim of the organization
was to oversee all local

legal business, including
criminal cases and civil suits,

as well of the sharing
of these 76 individual

strips of land above the town.

Laugharne's other living relic
is it's outstanding castle.

Built originally in the 12th century,

and redeveloped in Shuda times,

its current ruins standing posingly

over the stunning expanse of
the glorious Calf Estuary,

where the River Taff
flows into Carmarthen Bay.

(soft music)

At the mouth of the estuary,

dropping down off the edge of the town,

is the boathouse home of
Laugharne's most famous son,

the world renowned poet, Dylan Thomas.

The rustic charm of the location

gave inspiration for some
of his most famous works,

such as "Over Sir John's Hill"

which describes his view of birds

stalking their prey over the sea.

And his masterpiece, "Under Milk Wood"

the radio play that was much inspired

by the wonderfully eccentric
community of Laugharne.

The River Taff is one
of a number estuaries

feeding into Carmarthen Bay.

As we follow the peninsula
hugging Pendine Sands,

we find a wide, blue, estuary
waters of the River Towy,

one of Wales' longest
waterways, which flows from the

Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales,

situated 121 kilometers to the North.

For over 800 years, the Towy
estuary has been guarded

by the magnificent Llansteffan Castle.

A 12th century Norman fortress,

its ruins still stand watch
over the mouth of the bay.

Such a prized strategic location however,

has met a tumultuous history.

The 12th and 13th centuries
saw regular battles

for its possession between
the early Norman conquerors

and the rebellious locals.

These days, its stunning
battlements and towers

are listed and protected and
is popular tourist destination.

We now head north,
following the River Towy

upstream towards its source.

Its course tucks and turns through

typically lush rolling Welsh countryside

before the river plain
opens out to Carmarthen.

It lays claimed to be
the oldest town in Wales

and is now a vibrant mix
of traditional and new.

Dating back to Roman times,

Carmarthen still remains
a thriving market town.

As well as its medieval center,

it's also home to a major campus
of the University of Wales.

This dramatic change of
scenery seasons arrive`on

70 kilometers east, to the mist of the

Brecon Beacons National Park,

a wild and rugged landscape
of astonishing natural beauty

that sits on the border
of South and Mid Wales.

These grassy and heather-clad
mountains have seen

human activity for over eight millennia.

And today, it's in the form of
nature lovers the world over,

drawing trekking
enthusiasts eager to explore

its often challenging terrain.

The Brecon Beacon Range is the
highest in Southern Britain,

and at its eastern most edge
are the Black Mountains,

an ancient collection of hills and

richly verdant winding
valleys that spread across

the counties of Powys and Monmouthshire

close to the English border.

Deep in the heart of a valley,
the secluded vale of Eus

sits the ruins of Flantony Prairie,

built by a order of augustinian
monks in the 12th century.

The ghostly but commanding
ruins we see today

show evidence of both Norman
and gothic architecture,

such as the long arcade of arches.

Alone in its valley, Flantony
stands as a stark monument

of a forgotten era.

Leaving the Vale of Eus, we
journey up the valley top

to the East, where the Black Mountains

drop down into border country.

Here on the very edge of Wales

is the English county of Herefordshire,

and the picturesque Olchon Valley.

It's where we find the
pathwald thickwald keep,

that is Longtown Castle,

built around the turn of the 13th century.

Sitting on a large earthen mound,

the fort was so designed
for a very simple reason.

Its task was too serve
as an unbreakable bullwog

against Welsh raids
from the Black Mountains

across the English border.

And today, its still stands
symbolically guarding

the borders with an awesome presence.

This stretch of country is scattered

with similar castles and strongholds

and heading 20 kilometers
southeast, we find White Castle,

another typically impressive
example for the Norman era.

With its moat, bridge,
gatehouse, sprawling battlemans,

it's a picture perfect example
of medieval military might.

Originally named after the

neighboring village of Llantillio,

it later came to be known as White Castle

in the 13th century when
its walls were line washed

from top to bottom, and the
name has stuck ever since.

Another intriguingly named
feature in the region

is the looming and iconic
Monmouthshire Mountain

called the Sugarloaf, so
labeled, unsurprisingly,

for its physical similarity
to the old method

of forming and selling refined sugar,

that of a tall cone with a rounded top.

There are several other
hills and mountains

around the world with the same name.

Our journey now takes
us into the 20th century

and the emotional heart of Welsh Industry,

the South Wales Coal Fields.

Our first stop is here,

at the Big Pit National
Coal Museum at Blaenavon,

which symbolizes the
importance in inheritance

of the now mostly defaunt
Welsh mining industry.

But in its day it absolutely dominated

this whole area of South Wales,

supplying jobs for entire communities

and fueling the Industrial Revolution

during the 18th and 19th centuries.

But with what was seen as
the declining importance

of coal mining to the UK
government during the 20th century,

many pits were forced to close.

This caused widespread employment
and poverty in the region,

the effects of which are
still felt to this day.

Big Pit has become an
emotionally resident location

for generations of Welsh minors.

As its historic collery buildings

are still as they were when
the mine was fully operational,

even though the Pit is now
a highly popular destination

rather than a fully working site.

The Welsh coal fields are better known

within Wales as simply, "The Valleys"

and are a hub of tight knit
working class communities

recognizable by their traditional
rows of tourist houses,

sprawling along the length
of the valley floors.

(soft piano)

Journeying south for the
industrial heartlands,

we arrive at the town of Caerphilly

and its magnificent
castle, one of the finest

of those still standing in Wales.

This 13th century, slumbering
giant of a fortress is

surrounded by a series of
stunning moats and watery islands

and was the creation of
Gilbert "The Red" de Clare,

a red headed nobleman of Norman descent.

It's an extraordinary testament
to craftsmanship and power.

The water features alone
are entirely artificial

and were created solely
for defensive purposes,

whilst its concentric
battlements and barricades

are considered some of the finest examples

of classic medieval
stone masonry in Europe.

Gilbert "The Red" de
Clare was also responsible

for the initial construction
of what's considered

maybe Wale's most eccentric
castle, Castell Coch.

Sitting on the hillside above
the village of Tongwynlais,

the remains of de Clare's
originally structure

were bought by the Marquess
of Bute in the 19th century,

and redesigned in a neo-medieval style

by architect, William Burges.

At the time, the marquess was one

of the richest men in the world,

having made his fortune
in South Wales coal.

And as we can see here, he
refashioned Castell Coch

as a dreamlike gothic fairytale castle,

with its pointed towers soaring out

from the surrounding forest.

Today it's considered to
be somewhat of a folly,

a beautiful but historically
inaccurate mishmash of styles,

a testament perhaps more
to the wealth of one man

and his desire to truly
live like a medieval king.

From here it's south, towards the sea

and the vibrant city of
Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

For many years, its industrial heart

was to be found here at Cardiff Bay.

Once a thriving port,
primarily exporting Welsh coal

to the rest of the world,

the Bay is now the symbolic
center of national regeneration.

Classic buildings such as the Pierhead

mixed with a panoply of
modern designs and structures.

(bright music)

The Bay's most prominent landmark

is the award-winning
Wales Millennium Center

where the defining inscription
by poet Gwyneth Lewis,

our motto for the spirit of
Cardiff Bay in its entirety:

"In these stones, horizons sing."

And looking to the horizon, we can see

the newly constructed
barrage created in the 1990s

to give the Bay its
permanent high water line,

as if the tide is always in.

(lively music)

Cardiff itself is in every
sense a capital city,

being the chief commercial,
cultural, and sporting center

as well as the seat of
the Welsh government.

And taking it's pride
of place in the center

is Cardiff Castle one of Wale's
leading heritage attractions

and a historic site of
internationally importance.

To step through these
battlements into its grounds

is to embrace over 2000
years of living history.

The outer walls from Norman
times are built on Roman ones.

But the castle is known
today for its 19th century

towers and battlements designed
once again by William Burges

His work here is justly celebrated.

The main castle is a
Welsh Victorian Camelot,

of opulent interiors and fairytale towers

that attract visitors
from around the globe.

(classy music)

And adjoining the castle
grounds is Cafe's Park,

home of the city's municipal buildings

and considered to be one of the finest

of such a states in Britain.

It's where we find the
monumental edwardian designed

of the Cardiff City Hall, built in 1906.

And next door is the atrium
topped National Museum of Wales.

For the Welsh themselves though,

Cardiff's most precious
monument is perhaps this,

the home of the national rugby
team, the Millennium Stadium.

If rugby was a religion in Wales,

this would be its cathedral.

On match days, up to 75000
chanting and singing supporters

raise the roof to cheer on Team Wales.

South of Cardiff, in the
Bristol Channel are two islands,

Flat Holm and Steep Holm.

Both now uninhabited nature reserves,

but which were previously fortified

as a defense against possible invasion.

Following the coast
eastward, we head to Newport.

Previously a thriving industrial hub,

the city is now a shadow
of its past preeminence,

following the collapse of the coal

and steel industries in South Wales.

In recent years however,
the city's been undergoing

a major regeneration effort.

Newport's industrial past has
left some fascinating legacies

like the Transporter Bridge, built in 1906

and now one of only two
substructures in the country.

Transporters are unique in that they carry

goods and people across the water

by means of a hanging gaundler,

like the one we can see here
docked by the waterside.

Though Newport is very
much a city in transition,

it still remains a vital link
between wales and England.

It's a permanent stop on the
main west coast rail network

that connects Cardiff to London.

And, the major M4 motorway that joins

Carmarthenshire and the West of Wales

with the Southeast of England.

But the history of this region goes back

much further than the
Industrial Revolution.

These are the remains of an
ancient Roman arena, at Carrion.

Now sitting on the outskirts of Newport,

these remains were once part of a

much larger Roman military
Garrison Barracks.

The site is considered to be the

finest example in all of Europe.

In its heyday, this arena
could have sat up to

6000 baying and cheering Roman troops.

And many of its original features,

such as its sunken amphitheater
entrances and slope terraces

are still intact.

Today the arena is the pride
of the village of Carrion

and attracts many tourists
from across the globe to Wales,

often to see the amphitheater used

for open air performances,
and historical recreations.

Traveling some 20 kilometers north

to the county of Monmouthshire,

we come to another of
Wales' board of fortresses.

Raglan Castle was built in the 1430s,

a more recent edition compared to some

of the more older Norman castles
we've seen on this journey.

It was created as a lavish home

of a local nobleman and wine
trader, William Herbert.

Architecturally, it's noteworthy
for its turrets and massive

mullion windows, which would've
bathed its rooms in light.

Beyond its opulent design,
it was a stronghold too.

Famously withstanding a 13 week siege

during the English Civil
War of the 17th century.

Eventually, it fell and
the revolution reforces

inflicted much the damage
we still see today.

But despite that, plenty
or grandeur remains,

and visiting Raglan gives every
visitor a visual experience

of what it might have been like

to live with tremendous wealth and power.

Following the border with England

along the peaceful Wye Valley,

we arrive at the haunting
ruins of Tintern Abbey.

(haunting music)

For 400 years, it was the home

of the Cistercian order of monks.

Until 1536 that is, when it
fell victim to a bitter dispute

between King Henry VIII of
England and the Pope in Rome.

In a show of defiance, it was
one of 800 religions buildings

destroyed on the monarch's orders.

It came to be known as the
Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Lead from the roof was stripped off,

stained-glass windows smashed,

fittings ripped out and left to decay.

But despite the shell
of this grand structure

being so open to the skies for so long,

Tintern remains the best
preserved medieval Abbey in Wales.

Today, it's a popular destination

for thousands of visitors
each year who come to witness

its evocative presence
here on the Wye River.

Following the waterways south, takes us

to the last of the major Welsh castles

we'll be visiting on
our journey, Chepstow.

This stunning fortress
is the oldest surviving

post Roman stone fortification in Britain

and the earliest of the Norman keeps.

Built only a year after
the conquest of 1066.

It stands perched between
the Limestone River Cliff

and a valley known locally as
the Dell on its landward side.

Today the castle is very
much a lesson in longevity.

Century after century, it grew along

its narrow clifftop ridge.

The oldest section can be seen here,

The Norman Great Tower, and building work

continued well into the 17th century,

as battlements were modified
for guns and cannon.

By the 1700s, the castle
began to fall into disrepair,

and it wasn't until the growth of tourism

in the 19th century, that its
fortunes started to recover

with flourishing numbers of sight seers.

And finally, and perhaps suitably,

we cross over from Wales
to England via the bridges

that join the two neighboring nations

over the magnificent Severn Estuary.

The first of the two, simply
called The Severn Bridge,

was built in 1966 and
was hailed as the dawn

of a new economic era for South Wales.

(happy music)

The far longer second
crossing was opened in 1996

to cope with the enormous
amount of traffic

flowing along the M4 motorway.

(happy music)

These modernist constructions have been a

vital component when
opening up South Wales

to the rest of the United Kingdom,

particularly, the economic center

of the Southeast of England.

And since 1966, the bridges have carried

more than 300 million vehicles.

But for all their economic and
strategic importance to Wales

the Severn Bridges are fixed
in a popular imagination

as particularly spectacular
examples of British engineering.

To drive across them high
above the water on a sunny day

can be quite an experience,

with Wales or England ahead of you,

surrounded by the vast
expanse of the tidal estuary,

a fine place to end this journey.

(upbeat music)

(music fades out)

(whooshing)