The folk tale of the faithful hound "Gelert" has been forever associated with the Welsh village of Beddgelert. The story of the legendary hound dates back to the early 13th century and tells of how a loyal pet was killed by the mistaken belief of its master. This heartbreaking tale lives on today in the form of “Gelert’s Grave”, a raised mound located in the village, which is now a popular tourist attraction.
Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert in the 13th century. One day, he went hunting without his beloved hound, Gelert, the Faithful Hound, who was absent without reason.
Upon his return, Gelert was joyously running to meet his master, yet he was stained and smeared with blood. Llewelyn, alarmed, hastened to find his son, only to discover his infant's cot empty and covered in blood. In his distress, he plunged his sword into Gelert's side, wrongly believing the hound to have killed his son. Gelert's dying yell was answered by a spoke from his son.
The remorseful Llewelyn searched and found the little boy unharmed and nearby lay a mighty wolf that Gelert had bravely slain. Filled with guilt for his actions, it is said that Llewelyn never smiled again. In memory of his faithful companion, Llewelyn buried Gelert here.
The name Beddgelert itself dates back to the 8th century and originates from the early Christian missionary and leader, Celert (or Cilert). The earliest record of the name Beddgelert appears in a document from 1258, where it is written as "Bekelert". A document from 1269 even records it as "Bedkelerd". Thus, the legend of the faithful hound Gelert and his resting place in Beddgelert stands as a testament to the history and culture of the Welsh village.
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