Edinburgh
Castle rises from an extinct volcanic outcrop at the top of the
Royal Mile. From the sweep of the Esplamade, used each August
for the famous military Tattoo, the 19th century Gatehouse gives
access to the hearth of the castle complex. The oldest building
is the 12th century St. Margaret's Chapel built by David I in
memory of his mother, on the highest point of the Castle Rock.
Around and below the chapel are the defensive batteries,
and buildings such as the 1742 Governors House still used as the
Governors official residence, the superb Great Hall with its hammerbean
roof and the Palace Block, a royal palace from the time of James
I. Here in 1566 Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI who
was to become James I of England. The Scottish Crown Jewels
the oldest royal regalia in Britain are the centre piece of an
exhibition telling their story and that of the Stone of Destiny
recently returned to Scotland from Westminster Abbey where it
had lain since Edward I took it south in 1296. Leave time to explore
the vaults known as the French prisons below the Great Hall; the
name recalls their use during the Napoleonic Wars.
Here you'll find the massive siege gun known as Mons Meg which
was given to James II in 1457 and could fire a 267kg stone nearly
3km. Today, the only gun fired regularly from the castle is the
1 o'clock gun, echoing from the Mills Mount Battery.
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