The ‘Monastic Wales Project’

The religious houses of medieval Wales, along with the Norman and native Welsh castles, form an important part of the country’s medieval heritage. The Monastic Wales Project, launched in 2009, aims to explore how medieval monasteries have helped shape modern society, provide a platform for research on Wales’s medieval monastic sites, as well as facilitate informed visits to the medieval monastic sites of Wales. This article presents the Monastic Wales Project in its context within the heritage industry, heritage management projects and historical societies in Wales from the 18th century to the present day. It introduces the project’s aims, its website and publications, the activities of its members, and its contribution to conscientious tourism in Wales.