Cardigan Castle, with its 12th-century beginnings as an important stronghold in the ancient Welsh kingdom of Ceredigion, offers 21st-century visitors 900 years of history and a wealth of heritage. Decades of neglect left the site of Cardigan Castle in ruins but, after years of local campaigning, the castle is now in public hands. The castle is being brought back to life and is on course to open its doors in 2015 for community, recreational and educational uses. It will be a centre for learning the Welsh language, culture and crafts, as well as for environmental and horticulture studies. There will be a heritage centre with educational facilities, rooms to hire for training and educational purposes, an events garden, an open-air concert area, a restaurant, and self-catering luxury accommodation.