Holyrood Palace
The official residence of the monarch in Scotland, often known as Holyrood Palace, stands on beautiful grounds under Arthur's throne. David Rizzio, her secretary, was murdered in the tower of Mary, Queen of Scots. The luxurious apartments are decorated with decorative plaster on the ceilings, wood carvings, tapestries and paintings. The gallery features works of art from the Royal Collection, and next to the palace are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
Abbey and Residence
The history of Holyrood began not as a royal palace, but as an abbey, now the ruins of the abbey are part of the palace grounds. According to tradition, David I founded the monastery for the Augustinian order in 1128. The name "Holyrood" comes from a corruption of the Anglo-Scottish word Haly Ruid (holy cross). Holyroodhouse was a guest house maintained by the Abbot of Holyrood.
In 1501, James IV began building a new residence next to the abbey for himself and his new queen, Margaret Tudor. He expanded the residence with a huge tower in 1528 and created a new western facade from 1535. Reconstruction has made Holyrood more of a luxurious residence than a fortified house. James' second wife, Mary de Guise, was crowned at the abbey, the Queen of Scots, whose name is most closely associated with Holyroodhouse.
Reconstruction of the castle
Holyrood was damaged during the Civil War when Oliver Cromwell's soldiers occupied the building. The fire caused serious damage. The palace was rebuilt in 1671 after the restoration of the throne of Charles II, and this 17th-century building can be seen today. In the 19th century, George IV made his highly publicized state visit to Scotland. In 1822, efforts were made to restore the interiors of the palace, but the real changes occurred when Queen Victoria decided to use Holyrood as a royal residence again.
State apartments
A set of formal rooms, each more elegant than the previous one, leads to the master bedroom, where only the most select and high-ranking visitors are allowed. The most impressive hall is the Large Gallery, hung with 89 paintings by Jacob de Wet, depicting real and fictional kings of Scotland. The gallery once served as the state dining room, but is now used for official receptions. Another important hall is the Throne Room, where the knights and ladies of the Order of the Thistle officially dine when a new member of the Order is appointed. A special exhibition of the Order of the Thistle is part of the tour.
