Holyrood Palace
The official residence of the monarch in Scotland, often known as the Palace of Holyrood, stands in the beautiful grounds beneath Arthur's throne. In the tower of Mary, Queen of Scots, her secretary David Rizzio was killed. Luxurious apartments feature decorative stucco 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
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 the guest house that the Abbe Holyrood kept.
In 1501, James IV began building a new residence next to the abbey for himself and his new queen, Margaret Tudor. He extended the residence with a huge tower in 1528 and created a new western façade from 1535. The renovation made Holyrood more of a luxury residence than a fortified home. James's second wife, Mary of Guise, was crowned Queen of Scots in the abbey, whose name is most closely associated with Holyroodhouse.
Castle reconstruction
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 building on the 17th can be seen today. In the 19th century, George IV made his highly publicized state visit to Scotland. Efforts were made in 1822 to restore the interiors of the palace, but the real change came when Queen Victoria decided to use Holyrood again as a royal residence.
State Apartments
A set of state rooms, each more elegant than the last, leads to the master bedroom, where only the most select and high-ranking visitors are admitted. The most impressive room is the Grand Gallery, which is 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 formally dine when a new member of the Order is appointed. The special exhibition of the Order of the Thistle is part of the tour.
