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The castle adds to the incredible sense of history that pervades
everything here. It has witnessed so much in terms of Scotland’s
tumultuous but always proud saga. Looking up to the castle,
or looking down from its ramparts over the beautiful city
it’s so easy to imagine the various eras of the past
800 years that the castle has witnessed. Edinburgh Castle
sets the stage for an exceptional city.
Edinburgh is of appeal to all, be it the historian, the architecture
lover, arts fan, or even the addicted shopper. It is perfect
for families, children will learn much from all the living
history.
Edinburgh is also a romantic retreat, where hours can be
spent walking the fine streets, browsing at antiques and artifacts
or dining in one of the city’s many fine eateries.
By the 11th century a community began to develop at the base
of the castle’s crag and the city quickly grew. In 1124
King David I founded Holyrood Abbey. In 1450, in the tradition
of the times, the city was walled. Because of the restricted
space the inhabitants were forced to build tenement style
dwellings that rose 12 storeys. In 1513 the Scots under James
IV suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the English.
The king was killed along with 10,000 of his soldiers.
It’s not surprising that the origins of Edinburgh evolved
around the castle. This huge high cliff or crag was formed
from volcanic basalt and is vertical on three sides. Its natural
defense capabilities attracted settlement from as early as
850BC. In the sixth century a tribe from across the border
in Northumberland captured the area of Lothian (the county
in which Edinburgh stands.) A fortress known as Dun Eadain
was built on top of the rock. The tribe was the Angles, and
Dun Eadain served as the southern outpost of what was to become
Scotland. Eventually the frontier with England moved south
to the River Tweed, but Edinburgh was still raided by the
English seven times.
The English tried to force the unity between the two countries
that they had long sought to rule by forcing the daughter
of the new king James V, to marry Edward, the son of England’s
Henry VIII. The daughter was Mary, later to become Mary Queen
of Scots. To avoid the marriage she was sent in exile as a
very young child to France. She married the French crown prince
(Dauphin). She returned to Scotland a widow, remarried twice,
but was eventually executed by the English because of her
adherence to Catholicism and the perception that she was a
threat to the security of England’s Elizabeth I.
In the 1800s the population further exploded, caused largely
by a large influx of refugees from Ireland’s potato
famines. The tenements of the Old Town were filled with these
new citizens of Edinburgh. The Irish populace contributed
much to the culture of the city and helped make Edinburgh
a little less stodgy. Edinburgh’s great pub and nightlife
scene probably emanates from the Irish influx also at least
partially so. Perhaps Edinburgh’s most famous citizen
actor Sean Connery - is of Irish heritage.
In the 20th Century with the advent of mass tourism, Edinburgh
has become increasingly popular and prominent. The famous
Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival have helped put this great city on the world map.
With the referendum of 1997, which once again brought a Scottish
parliament back to the city, Edinburgh is becoming increasingly
important politically after centuries of displacement. The
new Parliament Buildings across from the
Palace of Holyrood House are controversial because of
their cost, but promise to be spectacular.
Edinburgh is well connected to the rest of the UK by an extensive
rail network. Waverley Station is a hub for Scottish rail
travel. There are trains to Edinburgh daily from all parts
of Britain, Aberdeen,
Inverness,
York
and Newcastle are all approximately two hours by train. Glasgow
is only 45 minutes away, with services every 15 minutes. London
and other major cities in England
are reached in hours.
Britain’s National Express Coach Lines also serve the
city through their extensive network. Edinburgh International
Airport is becoming increasingly busy. It is linked to the
rest of the world through connections from London
and other major European cities. It is also served by charter
flights from the USA and Canada during the summer months.
Edinburgh Airport is located eight miles west of the city
centre. Road access to the airport is via the A8 Edinburgh/Glasgow
road. Edinburgh has two stations - Haymarket and Waverley.
The main station is Waverley which is located in the city
centre, just off Princes Street between the New and Old towns.
By Car: The road network to Edinburgh is excellent and there
are links from the Ferry ports of Stranraer and Cairnyan.
Edinburgh
Castle | National
Gallery of Scotland | Palace
of Holyrood House | Royal
Mile | Scott
Monument
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