Powis Castle is the reason Welshpool belongs on a travel map. The red sandstone castle began as a medieval fortress, but centuries of Herbert family money turned it into a great country house, with rich interiors, paintings, furniture, and the Clive Museum's South Asian collection.
The gardens are just as important as the rooms. Terraces, clipped yews, statues, and long views over the Severn valley give Powis a warmer, more theatrical feel than most Welsh castles. Allow several hours; rushing it misses the point.