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EDINBURGH CASTLEFrom ancient times till nowadays

By Natalia Mironova, Moscow


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History of Edinburgh Edinburgh boasts a rich and intriguing history which can be uncovered as you explore the city. Atmospheric cobbled streets,

wonderful architecture, old closes and wide avenues allow you to imagine yourself transported back in time.

Scotlands capital grew around its Old Town until the late 18th century and this area of the city still has a distinct characterfrom the iconic castle at the top of the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket below, where public hangings formerly took place. TheNor Loch acted as a natural defence for the city at this time before it was drained and converted into the beautiful PrincesStreet Gardens in later years.

During the Victorian era, Edinburgh earned itself a nickname as Auld Reekie due to the smoke from the steam engines andthe pollution of the industrial revolution.

After 1583, the city was also a hub for educational and professional development since the world-famous university wasfounded. The University of Edinburgh still stands today as a symbol of the knowledge and intellectual talent to be found inthe city. Many new ventures occurred including the founding of the Bank of Scotland in 1695, marking Edinburgh as afinancial capital by the end of the 20th century.

1707 saw the Act of Union, which joined Scotland and England together politically, and moved power from Edinburgh's oldparliament to London's Westminster. Tenements were an identifying feature of the city by the late 18th century, when thepopulation was expanding rapidly to around 35,000. The rich lived on the desirable upper and middle floors of these

buildings while the poor were relegated to the lower levels.

Living conditions were not good at this time and many wealthy residents moved to London. Eventually a competition to

design a new part of the city was put in place to try to attract the wealthy back to Edinburgh. James Craig won this contestand his ideas and influences are still visible in the grid pattern of the streets of the Georgian New Town.

King George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822 and by then it was Europes most influential financial city outside of London withneoclassical architecture giving it a name as the Athens of the North.

Today, Edinburgh combines both modernity and tradition. Modern architecture such as the Scottish Parliament sitsalongside wonderful baroque buildings including the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Each community is individual, giving you aunique sense of the past and present as you explore.


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ORIGINS OF THE CASTLE

Around 340 million BCThe castle rock is created byvolcanic activity.

Around 900 BCFirst archaeologicalevidence for humansettlement on the castle.

Around AD 600First historical reference toDin Eidyn - a fortress onthe rock.


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ORIGINS OF THE CASTLE

AD 638Angles capture Din Eidyn andrename it Edinburgh.

1093

St Margaret of Scotland diesin the Castle of Maidens,Edinburgh

Around 1130David I builds a formidable

royal castle on the rock. Itincludes a chapel dedicated tohis mother Queen Margaret,which still stands.


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WARS OF INDEPENDENCE

1296Edward I of England invades Scotland,capturing the castle after a three-daysiege.

1314The Scots, under Robert the Bruce,recapture the castle.

1334The English retake the castle.

1341The Scots take it back again.

1356David II orders the rebuilding of thecastle. Davids Tower is named afterhim.

1371David II dies in the castle.


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A SEAT OF ROYAL POWER

1457The giant cannon Mons

Meg arrives in the castle,a gift to James II.

1511James IV builds the

Great Hall.


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1494 to 1540The Sceptre and the Sword ofState are presented to James IV bysuccessive popes. The Honours ofScotland are completed when theCrown is made in its present form

for James V.

1566Mary Queen of Scots gives birth inthe castle to her only child, thefuture King James VI of Scotlandand I of England.

1571 to 1573The Lang Siege, which ends inthe destruction of Davids Tower.


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1574 to 1578The castle is rebuilt. The Half-Moon Battery and PortcullisGate are added to reinforce itsdefences.

1615 to 1617The Royal Palace is extensivelyrenovated for James VIs visitto his birthplace for his 50thanniversary as king of Scots.

1633Charles I is the last monarch tosleep in the castle, on the nightbefore his coronation as Kingof Scotland.


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ROYALTY UNDER THREAT

1650Having overthrown andexecuted Charles I, OliverCromwell invades

Scotland and captures thecastle.

1651 to 1660The Honours of Scotland(Crown, Sword and

Sceptre) are buried nearStonehaven,Kincardineshire, to savethem from Cromwell


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The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the most spectacular show

in the world, enjoyed by an international television audience of 100million. There is, however, no substitute for being there in personas part of the 217,000-strong audience over its three-week seasonon the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle who don't simply watch the

show but become a part of it. In the glowering twilight, Edinburgh Castle slumbers, resting,waiting for nightfall and for the footlights that will transform it intoa dazzling stage set for the world's most spectacular show. DownCastlehill, along the Lawnmarket, around the cathedral church ofSt Giles, through the closes of the Royal Mile and the narrowstreets whose setts ring with history, people gather in the dusk of alate summer evening.

Turning their faces to the great castle rock, where ancient clans firstsettled the area, which was to become the capital of Scotland and

where now stands Edinburgh's mighty fortress, they join a crowdthat will soon be an audience, rapt with enthusiasm for the uniquespectacle that is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Climbing the final rise towards the Castle Esplanade, walkingcompanionably together, eight and ten abreast, eager old hands

who come every year but never lose the thrill of a Tattoo ahead, andnew folk, many on holiday from other proud nations a world away,

who are about to witness the show they will never forget...


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The Edinburgh Military Tattoo


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Top Secret Drum CorpsPipes


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http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

http://www.edinburgh.org

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk

http://youtu.be/iMmn00iXf38
http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/http://www.edinburgh.org/http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/http://www.edinburgh.org/http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/

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