The Roman invasion may have ended almost 2,000 years ago but their stamp on North Wales will always remain.

In 55 BC, the Roman General Julius Caesar led his army from Gaul to Britain to make our country part of Rome's empire.

Six years later, they reached Anglesey and by 75 BC and by the 80s AD the whole of what would be England and Wales had come under Roman control.

From fortifications to earthworks, watchtowers and Roman military camps, North Wales remains home to their incredible ancient sites.

And while there may be many more waiting to be discovered, here with the help of archaeological and historical site Archwilio, we have put together a list of some of the most fascinating Roman sites you can explore today.

Segontium Roman Fort

Segontium Roman Fort, Caernarfon

Segontium, established almost 2,000 years ago was the largest Roman fort in North Wales and survived until the late fourth century - longer than any other in Wales.

It was founded by the governor of Britannia, Cnaeus Julius Agricola, in AD 77.

It is considered as one of the most important Roman sites in North Wales and would have covered four times the area of the town's famous castle.

Built to defend the Roman Empire against rebellious tribes, the auxiliary fort was designed to house up to 1000 troops and played a role in the organisation of mining operations and in the collection of taxes.

Today, you can see the remains of the barracks, buildings with underfloor heating (hypocaust), storehouses, a bathhouse and the praetorium (the commander’s house).

Segontium was later plundered to provide stone for Edward I's castle at Caernarfon.

Linked by road to a series of other forts, including Kanovium (Caerhun) and Tomen-y-mur (Trawsfynydd), and supported by the legionary bases at Deva (Chester) and Isca (Caerleon), it played a key role in the suppression of the newly conquered Welsh tribes.

Now in the care of the National Trust, visitors can walk around the site for free from 10am until 4pm.

Where: Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Segontium Museum

Segontium Roman Fort, Caernarfon

The Segontium Roman fort museum is located on the site of the old auxiliary fort built by the Romans when they spread their conquest of Britain into Wales back in 77 AD.

Several excavations during the 1920s revealed a number of exciting findings from the Roman era that tell the story of the Roman invasion.

And at the museum, you can now handle items that were found and find out more about present-day excavations.

You can even try on replica armour and imagine yourself walking the streets of one of the greatest Roman sites in Wales.

The museum is now run by Cadw and can be visited from 10am until 4pm daily.

Where: Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Caer Lêb

Caer Lêb Roman earthwork, Brynsiencyn, Anglesey

Caer Lêb, which means Leaven Castle, is a Roman earthworks - a large artificial bank of soil made as a defence in ancient times.

Situated in a wetland near Afon Braint, Caer Lêb is defined by double banks and ditches and in heavy rain, the site will still fill with water even today, proving they would have acted as a strong barrier to prevent raiders and thieves.

As part of an excavation in the mid 1800s, structures within the enclosure were discovered including rectangular buildings on the east and a circular one on the south, however these cannot be seen today.

The time Caer Lêb was constructed is not known but past excavations suggest it could have been during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Due to a lack of distinctive finds, this cannot be confirmed.

Roman coins have also been unearthed here in the past.

This site is owned by Cadw and is open daily from 10am until 4pm free of charge.

Where: Brynsiencyn, Anglesey

Cemlyn Bay

An new Roman era 'fortlet' has been found on Anglesey
An new Roman era 'fortlet' has been found on Anglesey

In 2015, archaeologists found what appears to be a small Roman fort on land near Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey - close to the Wylfa power station.

The fortlet is thought to date back to the first century AD and is surrounded by a circular ditch which has not been seen anywhere else in Wales.

Gwynedd Archaelogical Trust say the discovery is the first early Roman military site to be found on the island.

The conquest of Anglesey was famously described two thousand years ago in lurid detail by the Roman senator and historian Tacitus.

The Gwynedd Archaelogical Trust received grant funding from CADW to carry out a geophysical survey of the site.

Archaelogists were first alerted to the site by local aerial photographer and historian Mary Aris who had spotted a faint circular mark in crops on a low hill overlooking the Anglesey coastline.

Where: Cylch-y-Garn, Anglesey

Video Loading

Caer Gybi

Caer Gybi Roman fort, Holyhead

Caer Gybi is a three-walled rectangular Roman fortlet, thought to have been constructed around the late third century which was used to guard against Irish pirate raids.

It is one of Europe's only three-walled Roman forts that still survives today. The remaining eastern side was open to the harbour.

Today, St Cybi's Church stands within the defensive circuit of the fortlet. Only the north-west corner tower is wholly of Roman construction as the other two towers were rebuilt at a later period.

The walls situated in Holyhead are owned by Cadw and can be visited daily free of charge.

Fact: Holyead was named Caergybi in Welsh after the fort.

Where: Holyhead, Anglesey

Caer y Twr

Caer y Twr late Roman watchtower on the summit of Holyhead Mountain

Caer y Twr is a late Roman watchtower on the summit of Holyhead Mountain, overlooking the town's harbour. It is believed the Romans would have built the tower as a look out point for Caer Gybi Fort.

It was built within the remains of an Iron Age hillfort on the east slope of the mountain. Today, the remains are very scant although stones of the original footings still remain along with abundant traces of the coarse gravel from the decayed mortar.

To the west of the mountain, just below Caer y Twr, five large stones that would have formed a hut circle settlement still remain, which could have been used at the same time as the fort.

Where: Holyhead, Anglesey

Kanovium (Canovium)

Canovium Roman Fort, Caerhun, Conwy

Archaeological evidence shows the Romans had a strong presence in Conwy with Kanovium - an auxiliary fort which lies on the west bank of the River Conwy.

The Roman military settlement was based at a strategically important point on a ridge overlooking the Conwy river and is thought to have held a 500 strong cohort (an ancient Roman military unit) of foot soldiers.

The settlement that occupied the land on either side of the Roman road was built around AD77 to control the crossing of the River Conwy to defend the road leading from Chester to their military outposts.

It is the last intermediate fort in a defensive chain that ran along the coastal road from Chester to Segontium in Caernarfon.

Kanovium is thought to have been in use until the fourth Century.

An annexe on the south side has been located that shows a bath house lay between the fort and the river. At the foot of the river, cliff traces of the bathhouse can still be seen today.

Earthwork defences are easily visible in the field surrounding the Caerhun churchyard but please note they are on private land, so unfortunately you won't be able to get up close.

Where: Caerhun, Conwy

The Roman Room

Llandudno Museum
Llandudno Museum

The Roman Room at Llandudno Museum is home to some fascinating Roman finds from Canovium - an auxiliary fort which lies on the west bank of the River Conwy.

The first known excavation of the Caerhun site took place in 1650 by the antiquarian Samuel Lee, who reported finding a hypocaust and Roman tiles imprinted with the inscription LEG XX V.

But the site was excavated again in the 1920s by PK Baillie Reynold who discovered several incredible objects.

They include a cremation urn, a Roman Samian bowl, a Roman game, a floor tile engraved with a child's footprint and a key.

All these artifacts are housed in the Roman Room which is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am until 5pm and on Sunday from 2.15pm until 5pm.

Where: Llandudno Museum, Gloddaeth Street, Llandudno

Tomen y Mur

Tomen y Mur Roman military site, Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd

Tomen y Mur - one of the most complete Roman military sites in the country - was erected in during the governorship of Gnaeus Julius Agricola around 77 AD and abandoned around 60 years later before being reused by the Normans in the middle ages.

It was part of a network of other important forts in the area including Segontium and Kanovium and was built in order to secure Roman power in Wales by protecting the Roman road communication and supply network.

Archaeologists believe the fort would have housed a cavalry unit of around 500.

Earthwork outlines suggest a small amphitheatre was present at the site during the Roman era which was used by soldiers for weapons and fitness training, as well as entertainment use.

Within the walls of the Roman fort is a huge castle mound believed to have been built by the Normans when they took over the site. The motte is what gave the site its name - Tomen y Mur translates as mound in the walls.

Note: The site, including the car park, is privately owned however visitors are welcome during daylight hours with permission of the owner through an agreement with the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Where: Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd

Caer Llwygy

Caer Llwygy, also known as Bryn y Gefeiliau Roman fort, Capel Curig, Conwy

Caer Llwygy, also known as Bryn y Gefeiliau is a Roman fort that stands next to the Afon Llugwy, Capel Curig, on the line of the road between Caerhun and Toman-y-Mur.

It is thought to have been built around 90AD to house around 500 soldiers.

Its name, Bryn y Gefeiliau translates as Hill of the Metalsmiths, suggesting the fort was built to control lead mining in the area.

During extensive excavation work during the early 1920s, archaeologists discovered the remains of hypocausts, thought to have been part of an under-floor heating system, as well as fragments of pottery which dated to around 80-120AD.

The best of these fragments can be seen today in the Gwynedd Museum in Bangor.

Today, you can see the remains of a large building at the site. The walls of this ruin that stand around a metre in height is thought to have been a Roman guest-house.

Where: Capel Curig, Conwy

Great Orme Copper Mines

Great Orme Copper Mines, Llandudno.
Great Orme Copper Mines, Llandudno.

Uncovered in 1987, the Great Orme's copper mines are one of the most important recent archaeological discoveries in Britain.

Thought to be at least 4000 years old, they are the largest of their kind ever discovered.

There is evidence of ancient mining here and the rich seam of copper could account for their continues presence at Kanovium. In the Great Orme Mines Museum, there is a large copper ingot believed to have been smelted by the Romans.

During an excavation in 1993, a stone lamp for burning oil was found in the Roman Copper Mines in the Great Orme's Head.

In 1926 the Board of Celtic Studies also reported that Carausius Roman coins and copper hammers were discovered at the mine.

The mines are open from 9.30am until 4.30pm until October 31. Admission is £7 for adults and £5 for children. Under fives are free.

Where: Great Orme, Llandudno