Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle stands in the center of the Scottish capital at an altitude of 135 meters above the sea. It was built on top of the forever dormant volcano Castle Rock. The appearance of the castle is shrouded in legends and mysteries, causing a lot of controversy among scientists. According to one version, King Malcolm and his wife Margaret built a hunting lodge in the 11th century. Over the years, the house has expanded to a real fortress.
Over the course of several centuries, the castle was upset, constantly changing its appearance. A chapel was built in honor of Queen Margaret, which is the oldest surviving building.
The fortification of the castle in the XVIII century was the construction of towers designed to repel an assault with artillery. The inaccessibility to Edinburgh Castle arose as a result of the surrounding area on three sides by sheer cliffs. The only road on the east side was in plain sight and was well shot from the towers. It is not surprising that almost no one dared to storm the castle fortress.
Further. After the end of the battles, the castle apartments served as a barracks, a prison where criminals were imprisoned. But after 49 prisoners escaped from the building, the prison was moved to another location, and the castle became a museum. Since 1830, the fortress has been accessible to tourists. The castle was also a prison during the Second World War, where German prisoners of war were held hostage.
Since the 19th century, when Walter Scott promoted all things Scottish and found the hidden Scottish crown in the walls of the palace, interest in architectural construction was revived, and the castle itself became a symbol of Scotland.
Edinburgh's main street, the Royal Mile, which is famous for its unusual beauty, leads to the castle.
There is a guard in front of the entrance to the palace, which is changed every hour.
Nowadays, the museum complex includes the palace itself, where the jewels of the royal dynasty are kept, the Museum of the Scottish United Forces, the Scottish Memorial dedicated to military operations and the Chapel of St. Margaret. The majestic Edinburgh Castle houses the symbols of the kings of Scotland – the Stone of Destiny, the Crown of Scotland and other royal regalia. A one-hour cannon is equipped, from which a shot is fired every day at exactly one o'clock.
The premises are also shared by the headquarters of the Scottish Division, the Royal Scottish Regimental Headquarters and the Scottish Royal Dragoon Guards.
Every year, at the end of August, an impressive parade of military bands takes place here. On New Year's holidays, the sky above the castle lights up with fireworks. Every year, the rich history and beauty of Edinburgh Castle attracts tens of thousands of tourists.
