Built on a ridge, Powis Castle boasts a gatehouse flanked by two imposing towers (built prior to 1300). In 1587, the castle was bought by Sir Edward Herbert who quickly adapted it to Elizabethan standards of comfort. The trompe l'oeil in the long gallery dates from the same period. The castle is also home to the collections of Robert Clive (1725-1774). The 18C gardens and their Italianate terraces are rare examples from the period that were not redesigned by Capability Brown.