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Edinburgh Castle
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Edinburgh
Castle is visited annually by more than one million people - with the
exception of the Tower of London that is more people than visit any
other ancient monument in the United Kingdom. Every visitor to Edinburgh
should visit the Castle not just because of its historical interest but
because it offers such splendid panoramic views of the city. It is from
these battlements you can really appreciate the dramatic setting of the
City of Edinburgh, situated between sea and hills. In the Castle itself, there is much to see. It was the seat (and regular refuge) of Scottish Kings, and the historical apartments include the Great Hall, which now houses a fascinating 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. The One O'Clock Gun is
fired every day from Edinburgh Castle except Sunday at precisely 1.00pm. No one is sure who first used the castle rock as a settlement, but it
was long before the Romans came sailing up the Forth and landing at
Cramond. The oldest building in all Edinburgh is to be found within the Castle precincts. It is St. Margaret's Chapel, a tiny Norman building which has been standing there intact for more than 900 years. It has survived all the sieges and bombardments to which the fortress on the rock was subjected during that period. On several occasions the castle was razed - but the demolishers invariably spared the chapel of the good St Margaret because of its religious significance. Today, members of the castle garrison still have the right to be married within the Chapel. Before leaving the Esplanade, look in the north-east corner for a small iron wall-fountain; it is popularly known as the Witches' Well, and it commemorates the grim fact that, centuries ago, many women held to be guilty of witchcraft were put to death at the stake on this spot. To the north, between the Castle and the Firth of Forth, the spectator has his first glimpse of Edinburgh's new town. To the east, below the Castle ramparts nestles the Old Town of Edinburgh which in itself is worth a lengthy visit. |
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