OverviewPowis Castle©NTPL/Ian Shaw

From medieval fortress inhabited by the great Welsh princes to a grand country house home to a dynasty of rich and powerful nobility, Powis Castle has been the subject of more than 400 years of modification and re-development by the Herbert family, who even now own a private apartment on the second floor.

Crowning a rocky outcrop near the town of Welshpool, Powis Castle is now run by the National Trust, which has ensured its place as a major attraction in Wales. Steeped in exciting history and with fascinating contents, you'll also get a real sense of what it would have been like to live in a medieval castle – as did Queen Victoria when she visited the castle during her tour through England and Wales in 1832.

Permanent collections

Powis Castle is home to a large array of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries, but be sure not to miss a superb collection of treasures from India in the Clive Museum, which includes textiles, armour, weapons, bronzes, silver pieces, jade, ivory and a formal tent, all amassed by the Clives in the 18th century.

A remarkable survival of the 1660s, the State Bedroom is the only one in Britain where a balustrade still rails off the bed alcove from the rest of the room. The design reflects the desire of the English gentry to emulate the elaborate etiquette practiced at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. 

Art Funded works

When Bernardo Bellotto's masterpiece A View of Verona was acquired for Powis Castle in 1981 it was widely trumpeted as 'by far the most important in which the fund has assisted the National Trust'. Purchased by Clive of India, the view is taken from the Ponte delle Navi in Verona.  

An acquisition that truly captures the imagination, the Tent of Tipu Sahib, Sultan of Mysore is another item collected by Clive of India. Made from four separate sections, in contrast to the plain-coloured fabric of the exterior, the interior is highly decorative, consisting of panels with repeated acanthus-cusped niches, with vases of symmetrical flower heads and stems. One to look out for!

John Singer Sargent's Portrait of the Hon. Violet Lane Fox, Baroness Darcy de Knayth, Countess of Powis depicts a great lady, her hair piled up in the fashionable bouffant style of the time. As the wife of the 4th Earl of Powis, Violet persuaded her husband to entrust the entire management of the deteriorating gardens at Powis Castle to her in 1911.

Visitor information

The castle's beautifully tended gardens are ideal for relaxing and picnicking in, but if you want the full experience you can rent a holiday cottage actually in the grounds! 

The restaurant on site serves locally sourced seasonal produce and the Welsh specialty cake (loved by the Prince of Wales) bara brith cake – apparently made with their own secret recipe. There is also a nursery selling plants and of course, the gift shop.