The National Library is a short taxi ride from Aberystwyth Station and there is car parking on site.

Cost: £40 per person includes 2-day programme, lunches and refreshments, excludes accommodation, other meals and transport to and from venue.

Accessibility: The National Library of Wales has a public car park that lies adjacent to the building. Within the Library’s grounds most areas and all public accesses can be reached via ramped walkways. Within the building, lifts are available to all floors, and all public access locations are clearly signed.

If there are insufficient bookings by March 23rd, the organisers reserve the right to cancel the event.

Please contact national office if you require a list of local hotels.

Program:

A two-day study break for U3A members in the town of Aberystwyth, based at The National Library of Wales, one of the six Legal Deposit Libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

On the first day, workshops will provide delegates with a unique access to some of the rare and inspirational materials held at the Library, including manuscripts, artworks by leading Welsh artists, archives, architectural plans, early photography and sound recordings.

The second day will focus on other establishments in Aberystwyth that also preserve Wales’ rich cultural history; the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Ceredigion Museum, and the Old College building, the first university college of the University of Wales, and now part of the Aberystwyth University campus. In addition to the wealth of materials stored at each repository, the venues themselves provide an interesting range of architectural types; the neo-classical façade of the National Library; the conical spires and castellated towers of the Old College, and the Edwardian theatre that houses Ceredigion Museum.

Sessions run from 9.45 – 16.45 each day and will include a variety of talks, presentations, tours, workshops and gallery walks.

Hidden Heart of Wales - Welsh Culture & Architecture