Welcome to Carmarthen

Carmarthen (Caerfyrddin), the county town of Carmarthenshire, is located on the south coast of Wales, on the River Towy, approximately 218 miles west of London and 66 miles north-west of Cardiff.

The town has a population of around 12,500. Administratively it is the seat of the local government district of Carmarthenshire (one of 22 principal areas of Wales) which covers an area of approximately 2,395 sq kms and which has a population of around 173,000.

Standing on rising ground on the north side of the river, it is the oldest town in Wales, along with Caerleon, with many steep narrow streets. Although there is little classic architecture there are some notable historic sites, including the remains of a 5,000 seat Roman amphitheatre. The town, which is renowned for its associations with King Arthur's magician Merlin who was allegedly born here in 480AD, is a thriving commercial and retail centre and a major transport hub for the region.

The town is thought to be the oldest in Wales, being recorded by Ptolemy and included in the Antonine Itinerary of Roman times. The Roman fort is thought to date from 75-77 AD. The first castle was built here in about 1094, although it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since, and Carmarthen is the oldest walled medieval town in Wales. In 1326 the town was made a staple port and had a licence to deal in wool, pelts, leather, tin and lead, as well as developing a fishing industry. In 1405 the town was taken and the castle sacked by Owain Glyndwr. In the 16th and 17th centuries the town's trade was in agriculture and woollen manufacture. A charter was granted by James I in 1604 which made the town a county corporate. It decreed that the town should be known as 'Town of the County of Carmarthen' and have two sheriffs. in 1835 this was reduced to one sheriff, and this post remains today. In the mid 18th century coal and iron trades predominated.

Historically the town's economy was based upon agriculture but today the service industry is the largest sector of the local economy, employing 65% of all workers. 

The Roman settlement here was called Maridunum meaning the 'sea fort', and the name Carmarthen (or Caerfyrddin) is the Celtic equivalent of this.