Edinburgh Castle

The castle has a wealth of history on display such as the tiny 12th-century St Margaret’s Chapel, the huge 15th-century cannon, Mons Meg and the Great Hall, erected by James IV in 1510. The castle is also home to the Scottish Crown Jewels (known as the Honors of Scotland which were last used ceremonially to crown Charles II), the Stone of Destiny, and the National War Museum of Scotland which explores the Scottish experience of war and military service over the last 400 years. And of course, perched high above their basalt crags, the castle’s ramparts provide fantastic panoramic views of the city. This most famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret’s Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World.

The oldest building in the castle, and in Edinburgh, is the small St. Margaret’s Chapel. One of the few 12th-century structures surviving in any Scottish castle it dates from the reign of King David I (r.1124–1153). It was built  as a private chapel for the royal family and dedicated King David’s mother, Saint Margaret of Scotland. It survived the slighting of 1314, when the castle’s defenses were destroyed on the orders of Robert the Bruce, and was used for gunpowder storage from the 16th century, until it was restored in 1851–1852. The chapel is still used for religious ceremonies, such as weddings.

Here are some links with more details about Edinburgh Castle:

Visit Scotland 

Edinburgh Castle

Fodors.com

Lonely Planet

Some images from our photo gallery: