Though it has been completely absorbed by the contemporary city, you may still get a sense of the grandeur of Newport Castle by seeing it from the bridge over the River Usk. The fortress’s centre tower with a water dock is visible from here, flanked by two other towers that indicate the fortress’s north and south ends.

The curtain wall of the castle was originally encircled by a wide moat that filled with water at high tide — a major advantage of its riverfront position. It was built in the 14th century to replace an older motte-and-bailey fortress on Stow Hill near the cathedral.