The Edinburgh Castle is visited by about one million people every year, making it the second most visited historical monument, taking its place after the Tower of London. For those who are taking a vacation to United Kingdom anytime soon, the Edinburgh Castle is a must see.
Perched on a now extinct volcano, the Edinburgh Castle is a powerful symbol of Scotland’s power and influence over the ages. Edinburgh is an ancient fortress located on top of the Royal Mile, west end of Old Town, Edinburgh. Human habitation of the place has been said to have been there since 9th century BC, although records of a royal castle is said to have been constructed by 1300s during the reign of David I.
The Edinburgh Castle was used as a place to house the royalties, as a military base, and now as a most visited tourist attraction of Scotland. Inside, there is so much to see and do. It has an interesting collection of weapons and artillery. There are plenty of rooms worth visiting for their historical importance. There is a tiny room in the Royal apartments wherein Mary the Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI. There is also the famed Crown Room, wherein Scotland’s treasures like the Crown, Scepter, and Sword of State are being housed.
The Edinburgh Castle is also home to the famous One O’clock Gun. From Mondays to Saturdays, this gun is fired at exactly one o’clock in the afternoon. Make sure to cover your ears when you’re in Edinburgh Castle at this time! The castle also has the infamous “Witches’ well”. This place, as the name suggests, is famous for it was where women accused of witchcraft are put to death at the stake. The Edinburgh Castle also boasts a wonderful panoramic view of the city, too.
Edinburgh caste is not just an unmatched piece of architecture, it is also evident of the first world war and the subsequent conflicts. National War Memorial at this place commemorates those Scottish soldiers, who died while serving the nation in the first world war.