Hay Castle stands in the middle of town, part Norman fortification, part 17th-century house, and now part cultural centre. It was long a romantic ruin, then reopened after restoration as a place for exhibitions, events, and views over the roofs of Hay.
It works best as the first stop in town. The castle explains why Hay was here before the bookshops arrived, and the modern use suits a place that has built so much of its identity around words and ideas.