Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle sits atop castle rock at the West end of the Royal Mile and dominates the city. Pictures of the castle have become the iconic tourist view of Edinburgh and the One o'Clock Gun can be heard throughout the city on weekdays.

History

The history of Edinburgh Castle stretches back to around 600 AD when it was the site of a small hill fort. This was called "Din Eidyn", a name usually translated as "the fort on the rock" or simply "Eidyn's Fort". The main castle was first built in the early 12th century and included St Margaret's Chapel. This small, simple stone building remains today as the oldest part of the Castle - and the oldest building in Edinburgh.

For many centuries the castle was a focus of battles, often between the English and the Scots. The building changed hands many times as well as being subject to siege, destruction, reinforcement and restoration.

Today

Edinburgh Castle today is run by Historic Scotland and is one of the city's major tourist attractions, receiving over a million visitors a year. It's a fascinating place to visit at any time and - if the weather permits - can provide superb views of Edinburgh and surrounding areas. On special occasions such as Hogmanay it provides a spectacular drop for firework displays - fireworks over Edinburgh and down the side of castle rock are an amazing sight.

The Castle is also today the venue for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo. And, of course, like much of the city the castle is reputed to be full of ghosts, especially in the dungeons.

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