Considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful and picturesque cities, the capital of Scotland lies on the rugged southeast coast of the country, its stunning landscape a product of pre-historic volcanic activity. Edinburgh sits atop a group of extinct volcanoes; its skyline dominated by a castle fortress perched high on Castle Rock, a collapsed crater of an ancient volcano. The city is renowned for its medieval buildings and some of the finest examples of Georgian architecture anywhere in the world. This bustling city also boasts more green space than most major cities, its many parks welcoming visitors to just sit, relax and soak up the surrounding beauty.
Edinburgh Castle began its function as a royal seat during the Middle Ages, the oldest part of the building today being the 12th Century Chapel of St. Margaret. However, archaeologists have found evidence that the site has been in use since the Bronze Age. The castle, along with sections of the cities’ Old and New Towns have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the castle’s ramparts, visitors are treated to spectacular views of the whole city. The castle houses Scotland’s crown jewels and the legendary Stone of Destiny, the coronation seat of ancient Scottish kings. Taken to London in the 13th Century, the stone was placed beneath the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. In 1996, Scotland rejoiced as this piece of Scottish history returned home, exactly seven hundred years after it had been spirited away.
The famous Royal Mile runs through Old Town and stretches from the Edinburgh castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Royal family, once home to Mary Queen of Scots. The Old Town is a labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways leading to formal courtyards graced by centuries old buildings. New Town, were building commenced in 1750, is where you will find magnificent Georgian structures. If you’re a horticultural fan, don’t miss the Royal Botanic Garden which features an impressive collection of plants, trees and flowers from all over the world.
Edinburgh is also known as a centre for arts and culture and it is rife with museums, art galleries and theatres. The city has a rich cultural heritage and has been home to some of the world’s great thinkers, scientists, engineers, economists and literary giants. Great writers like Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson hail from the city and more recently, it is where the fertile mind of J.K. Rowling gave birth to Harry Potter. You can drop by the Elephant House café where the literary phenom conjured up the boy wizard. If you read the Da Vinci Code, you may also want to visit the mysterious five hundred year old Rosslyn Chapel, located a few miles south of Edinburgh, and long believed to have links to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. The chapel’s mysterious carvings, which date back to before Columbus landed in the Americas, depict plants that are native to america.
Whatever your interests, from Renaissance masterpieces to modern art, elegant gardens to wonderful theatre productions, historic buildings to a vibrant nightlife, you’ll find that the beautiful city of Edinburgh has something for everyone.
Kirsty Peters is the Founder of Best Holiday Parks.
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