Photographs of Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, an ancient fortress, is Scotland's most famous castle, its number one visitor attraction. The number of visitors reaches approximately one million people every year. It is a place of great historical interest, remarkable fortress and former royal residence. It has a splendid panoramic views of the city. It is from these battlements, for example, that the traveller immediately appreciates the dramatic topography of Edinburgh, situated between sea and hills. No matter whether you are on the lowest levels of the Castle, or the highest points, visitors are delighted by what can be seen. When you look to the north, on a clear day, you can see the mountains of The Kingdom of Fife in the distance and immediately below you are the world famous Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is unique in that the shops along its length are only on the north side of the street, so from them you have an uninterrupted view of the Castle. Beyond Princes Street is George Street the most original of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town Streets - with shops along its length. Continuing to the north you have Queen Street which runs parallel to it. Beyond Queen Street the remaining New Town Preservation area is mostly residential, and the city can boast of having the most intact Georgian city in the whole of Europe, and has Unicef World Heritage Site status.




Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC. As it stands today though, few of the castle's structures pre-date the 16th century. Within the confines of the Castle, there is much to see. The Castle was once the royal residence of Scottish Kings and Queens (Queen Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son in the confinement of the Castle). The historical apartments include the Great Hall, which now houses an interesting collection of weapons and armour. The Royal apartments include a tiny room in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the boy who was to become King James VI of Scotland and James 1 of England upon the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603. The ancient Honours of Scotland - the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State - are on view in the Crown Room. Nearby is the Scottish National War Memorial, a building designed and created shortly after the First World War; many who enter find the experience a moving one.



As with all castles, Edinburgh's fortress has been a centre of military activity. The Castle has a strong connection with the Army. Serving soldiers stand watch at the castle gatehouse, with responsibility for the Honours of Scotland. The Scottish National War Memorial is an emotional part of Edinburgh Castle. Built shortly after the First World War it now contains records of every single Scot who perished in the 20th century world wars and. Edinburgh Castle is the home of the One O'Clock Gun. The One O'Clock Gun fires every day at exactly one o'clock every day except Sundays. It is one of the moments that visitors of Edinburgh Castle aim to capture on film.

During the rest of the time the castle is now run and administered, for the most part, by Historic Scotland. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. There are an estimated 3,000 castles in Scotland, ranging in size from royal residences and large military outposts with hundreds of rooms; to simple fortified farmhouses. Many of these castles are now ruins and some are known only through historical records.




Edinburgh is situated on the east coast of the central lowlands, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, on the North sea and, because of its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and Georgian Architecture including numerous stone tenements, it is one of the most dramatic cities in Europe.