Tintagel Castle: History and Legend
Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland projecting into the Cornish sea, Tintagel Castle is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain. Its association with King Arthur makes it also one of the most famous.
But the history of this enigmatic place stretches back centuries before the first tales of the legendary king shrouded it in the mists of romance. Find out more about Tintagel’s history and legends below.
History meets legend
History and legend are inseparable at Tintagel. From about the 5th to the 7th century AD it was an important stronghold, and probably a residence of rulers of Cornwall. Many fragments of luxury pottery imported from the Mediterranean were left behind by those who lived here.
It was probably memories of this seat of Cornish kings that inspired the 12th-century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth to name it in his History of the Kings of Britain as the place where King Arthur was conceived, with the help of Merlin. At the same time, Cornish and Breton writers linked the love story of Tristan and Iseult with Tintagel.
In turn, these associations with legend led the hugely rich and ambitious Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to build a castle here in the 1230s. The site was of no military value – legend alone seems to have inspired him to build here. And long after the castle had fallen into decay, its mythical associations kept interest in Tintagel alive.
-
Earl Richard of Cornwall, King Arthur and Tintagel Castle
Discover why the legend of King Arthur led one of the richest men in 13th-century England to build a castle at Tintagel.
-
Tintagel in about 700
Use the hotspots on this reconstruction of Tintagel in about AD 700 to find out what the settlement may have looked like at that time.
-
Explore Medieval Tintagel
Use this reconstruction of Tintagel in about 1240 to discover how the medieval castle may have appeared soon after it was built.
-
History of Tintagel
Read an in-depth history of the castle from its origins in the Roman period to the present day, and find out why Tintagel’s history and legends are so intertwined.
-
Tintagel Castle Collection
Explore in detail ten key objects found at Tintagel and find out what they tell us about the castle.
-
Why does Tintagel matter?
Discover Tintagel’s importance in its earliest phase, how this inspired its literary fame, and why this in turn led to the building of the medieval castle.
More Resources
-
Description of Tintagel Castle
Read a description of the remains of the castle and earlier settlement on the island and mainland at Tintagel.
-
2016 Discoveries and Excavations
This blog post reveals some of the fascinating evidence of the early medieval settlement at Tintagel that came to light during excavations in 2016.
-
Research on Tintagel Castle
Find out how archaeology has transformed our understanding of Tintagel over the last century, and what remains to be discovered by further research.
-
Sources for Tintagel Castle
Use this list of visual and written sources, published and unpublished, to learn more about Tintagel Castle and its history.
-
Download a Plan
Download this PDF plan of Tintagel to explore the castle and see how it has developed over time.
-
More histories
Delve into our history pages to discover more about our sites, how they have changed over time, and who made them what they are today.
Plan your visit
-
Visit Tintagel Castle
Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland, Tintagel Castle is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain.
-
Buy Tintagel tickets
Book online to get the best price and prepare for a great-value day out at one of Cornwall’s must-see attractions.
-
Buy the guidebook
Beautifully illustrated with plans, maps and historical images, the guidebook includes a tour and a history of the site and the people associated with it.