[7] The Norman church of St Dogfan is a Grade II* listed building, restored between 1879 and 1882, but with parts dating back to the 13th century.

There is a gravestone with a Celtic cross possibly commemorating Cwgan son of Ethelstan, a Welsh prince of the 11th century.

[8][9] The parish is best known for its former vicar, William Morgan (1545–10 September 1604), who first translated the whole Bible into Welsh in the 1580s and later became a bishop of Llandaff and of St.

Griffith Hartwell Jones (1859–1944), a Welsh academic and Anglican clergyman was born in the village.

[12] Attractions near the village include the Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall, known for its natural arch, the Berwyn Mountains, and Lake Vyrnwy.

The trackbed has been incorporated into agricultural use but the newly formed Tanat Valley Light Railway has expressed interest in reopening the line to as far as Llanrhaiadr Mochnant for heritage and tourist use; it is currently focused on reaching Blodwell Junction from Nantmawr.

More recently, the village featured in the 2012 film Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger with David Tennant, as the village where the St. Bernadette's school bus stopped to buy sweets on the way to Lake Vyrnwy in search of the (fictitious) Castell Llawen ('Merry Castle').