Llangollen, North Wales - where Wales welcomes the World

Dinas Bran Castle - Arthurian Llangollen astell Dinas Bran (Dinas Bran Castle) has a very important place in the history of the Holy Grail. Romances written in French and preserved in manuscripts from the 12th and 13th centuries tell the story of the Holy Grail and how it came to reside in North Wales.

Dinas Bran Castle - Arthurian Llangollen The Grail was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea and following his death the Grail was passed into the guardianship of his son Josephus and on his death to his nephew Alain le Gros.

Dinas Bran Castle - Arthurian Llangollen fter many years Alain, by now very aged, came to a land ruled by a king suffering from leprosy. With the help of the Grail he cured the king, who in return for this cure offered to build a strong castle on top of a hill overlooking a fast flowing river in which to house the Grail. Once the castle was finished a miraculous inscription appeared on the main gates saying that this castle must be named Corbenic.

Dinas Bran Castle - Arthurian Llangollen he link between the Grail Castle and Dinas Bran is in the name Corbenic. Corbenic is the old French word meaning crow or raven and in Welsh the word for raven is Bran so Dinas Bran is little more than a Welsh version of the French name Corbenic. The geographical setting of the romances is that of Wales and the border regions and Dinas Bran was the physical inspiration behind the Corbenic Castle of the Grail romances.

Dinas Bran Castle - Arthurian Llangollen hese manuscripts go on to tell us that the Grail resided in the castle for many years until the time of Arthur. In the nineteenth century a folk tale was recorded in the Llangollen area, which stated that there was a cave deep under Dinas Bran full of treasure which would only be disclosed to a boy followed by a white dog with silver eyes. These dogs are said to be able to see the wind.

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