Introducing Abergavenny (Y Fenni)
The handsome market town of Abergavenny is set amid shapely, tree-fringed hills on the eastern edge of Brecon Beacons National Park. Its ancient name, Y-Fenni (uh-ven-ni; Welsh for ‘place of the smiths’) was given to a stream that empties into the River Usk here, and later anglicised to Gavenny (Abergavenny means ‘mouth of the Gavenny’).
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The Romans established Gobannium Fort, exactly a day’s march from their garrison at Caerleon, near Newport, and stayed from AD 57 to 400. But the town grew in importance after a Marcher lord, Hamelin de Ballon, built a castle here around 1100. Today it thrives as a market, shopping and tourist centre.
Abergavenny makes a fine base for walks in the surrounding hills, and is one of only two towns providing rail access to the national park (the other is Merthyr Tydfil). The area has several excellent restaurants, and the annual Abergavenny Food Festival is a world-famous event.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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