It has been a multi-million pound rescue mission lasting 12 years , but 900-year-old Cardigan Castle , in Wales , is set open its doors to visitors once more in April . Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to the historic castle , to see the results of the Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust project . It is set to be a lavish affair , with 3,000 daffodils and 1,700 rolls of turf planted in celebration of the occasion . Cardigan Castle is set to open in April , after an £12m renovation . It is hoped that the Castle will become one of west Wales ’ top tourist destinations , attracting at least 33,000 visitors in the first year . The castle , which has been unoccupied since 1996 , will open its doors to visitors in April , following an extensive £12m restoration project which began in 2011 . The new lease of life for the castle includes the recreation of the paths and lawns of the regency gardens , a glass restaurant with panoramic views over the River Teifi , and the restoration of the whalebone arch – a popular feature for early 19th Century gardens . The impressive landmark has a fascinating history , from being build as a wooden Iron Age settlement by Gilbert de Clare in 1100 , to enduring medieval battles between Normans and Welsh rebels , and hosting Wales ' first Eisteddfod in 1176 . The last inhabitant was Barbara Wood , who sold the castle in 2001 after residing there for almost 60 years . The redevelopment of the site has included the recreation of the paths and lawns of the Regency gardens and the fitting of a floor-to-ceiling glass restaurant . In 1165 , The Lord Rhys and his Welsh army captured the castle and Cardigan became the first town in the country to be occupied by the Welsh . The design of some elements of the stone castle were inspired by the crusades and are the earliest examples of this work in the UK . The summer will feature events including an open-air theatre to music concerts , and fascinating exhibitions which tell the story of Cardigan , the castle , the people who lived there , and its role as the birthplace of the Eisteddfod . The castle was purchased by the council in 2003 and began being repaired as part of the regeneration of Cardigan by the CBPT charity . Jann Tucker , chair of CBPT , who was recently awarded an MBE for her efforts in preserving Welsh heritage , said : 'It 's been a long time coming but the finishing post is nearly in sight . We have worked so long and so hard for this . 'The Castle will really put Cardigan on the map . ' Through extensive refurbishment , and many hours work from numerous volunteers , the derelict site has been transformed into a high-end heritage attraction , luxury accommodation , restaurant and wedding and events venue . The renovation has transformed the house , previously inhabited by Barbara Wood , and restored the building for guests . Barbara was the last person to live in the castle and moved to the site as a young girl in July 1940 . Situated on raised ground overlooking the River Teifi , the site of Cardigan Castle has been an ideal location for thousands of years . This was confirmed by archaeologists in 2012 when Neolithic flint scrapers were unearthed in the castle ’ s grounds . Cardigan Castle has seen many battles over the years . A lesser known siege took place in 1138 when the Welsh attacked the Norman base with the help of Viking mercenaries . Cris Tomos , Castle Director , said : 'We 're busy putting the finishing touches in place and are looking forward to opening ahead of the May bank holidays and summer school break . 'And there 's plenty to attract visitors to the Castle over the summer months , with an exciting programme of events , from open-air theatre to music concerts , and fascinating exhibitions which tell the story of Cardigan , the Castle , the people who lived here , and its role as the birthplace of the Eisteddfod . ' Funding for the grand project came from the Heritage Lottery Fund ( £6m ) and European Regional Development Fund ( £4.3m ) , with the rest provided by other council and heritage trust funds . The grand opening will be Wednesday 15 April 2015 . The project has seen the site transformed from a derelict building into a high-end heritage attraction , luxury accommodation , restaurant and wedding and events venue .
Cardigan Castle is to open after 12 years of renovation on April 15 , 2015 . The 900-year-old historic site is set to be the top Wales attraction . 9,500 archaeological artifacts have been discovered at the castle .