Caernarfon, United Kingdom

It was in CAERNARFON, in 1969, that Charles, the current heir to the British throne, was invested as Prince of Wales, a ceremony which reaffirmed English sovereignty over Wales in this, one of the most nationalist of Welsh-speaking regions. Since 1282, when the English defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last Welsh prince of Wales, the title has been bestowed on heirs to the English (and then British) throne, but it wasn't until 1911 that the machinations of David Lloyd George – MP for Caernarfon and future prime minister – brought a theatrical investiture ceremony to the centre of his constituency: an odd move for a proto-nationalist, considering the symbolic implications. Caernarfon's location on the Menai Strait with views across to Anglesey makes it an appealing place, but apart from the vastly imposing castle there isn't too much to see. That said, it's a spirited and lively town, and has good bus connections to Llanberis and Snowdonia.