The old and the new are taking center stage in Wales this year. Historic Carmarthen Castle, dating back nearly 900 years, has re-opened after extensive restoration, and later in the year Wales will have a major new performance arts complex, with an emphasis on music, as befits the fabled \'land of song\'.

To help Americans learn more about what Wales has to offer, the Wales Tourist Board has published a vacation planner called \'Wales: Go a Little Further\', together with a guide to accommodation options entitled \'Wales: Where to Stay\', both available free from VisitBritain.

Carmarthen Castle, in south-west Wales, was founded by King Henry I in 1109 and was later the scene of several fierce battles, notably in the 15th century when Welsh folk hero Owain Glyndwr burned the town and took the castle from the English. Admission to the castle is free and visitors are able to take guided tours while archaeologists continue to work there, following the discovery of an underground network of medieval walls and cobbled-stone floors. Wales Millennium Centre, a £104 million (about $191 million) arts complex on Cardiff Bay, one of Europe\'s largest and most dramatic waterfront developments, will have a spectacular three-day opening gala in November, including a performance by Welsh opera star, bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, who is the gala\'s creative producer. The center will have world-class theaters and studios and will be home to the acclaimed Welsh National Opera and Diversion, the dance company of Wales.

In addition to Carmarthen Castle, the vacation planner points out that Wales\' ancient landscape is dotted with mysterious prehistoric sites, Celtic forts, Roman remains, medieval castles, majestic cathedrals and historic houses. Wales\' Celtic heritage dates back more than 2,500 years, with a legacy of jewelry and stone crosses bearing interlaced designs of great beauty and complexity.

The medieval period left a legacy of Europe\'s highest concentration of castles and fortified sites. Among the most spectacular are Conwy Castle in the walled town of Conwy; Caernarfon Castle, scene of the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales; Harlech Castle, on the west coast; and Caerphilly Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Britain.

Three national parks, Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast, and five designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Isle of Anglesey and the wooded Wye Valley, showcase the country\'s scenic contrasts, which offer diverse sporting activities, among them walking, cycling, riding, off-roading, angling and golf (Wales is to host the 2010 Ryder Cup matches between Europe and the USA).

The vacation planner also contains practical information on traveling to and around Wales, together with suggested touring itineraries, and has a list of festivals and other events happening in Wales this year, among them: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen (July 6 - 11); National Eisteddfod of Wales, Newport (July 31 - August 7); and the Dylan Thomas Festival, Swansea (October 27 - November 9). The accompanying accommodation guide lists a wide range of lodgings, from farmhouse bed-and-breakfasts to elegant country house hotels, as well as rental cottages and camp sites, all of them graded by tourist board inspectors. More information on what to see and do and where to stay in Wales can be found on the Wales Tourist Board website: www.visitwales.com.

Copies of \'Wales: Go a Little Further\' and \'Wales: Where to Stay\' are available free from VisitBritain\'s Travel Center, Suite 701, 551 Fifth Avenue (at 45th Street), in New York City, Mondays through Fridays between 9.00am and 6.00pm. VisitBritain\'s Travel Center can also be reached via email at: travelinfo@visitbritain.org