Updated May 25, 2023
Know Everything About Edinburgh Castle
Do you like horror movies? If you do, Castles must not be new to you. Castles are not haunted places, but they were the residences of Kings and queens in the past. Now that they are abandoned, or under the government’s care, Castles seem to haunt us. Edinburgh Castle is a big and beautiful castle in Scotland. It gives a picturesque view and can be sighted from far distances. It was home to dead kings and queens, a prison of war, and a military garrison.
History of Edinburgh Castle
What we know about the Castle needs more cohesive facts and information. The Castle was a fortress and home to war prisoners, as is clear from its strategic location. Iron Age folks erected Edinburgh Castle at the top of the prehistoric rock. There have been many conquests of this Castle, but, at present, it is in the ambit of the Scotland government. Edinburgh was home to Queens and Kings who ruled Scotland and nearby regions. The Castle has a chapel honoring the Queen turned Saint Margaret by his son King David I. The chapel is the venue for wedding and christening ceremonies these days. Kings like James IV and James IV had time to spend in Edinburgh Castle.
As soon as the first seven years of the War began, the first prisoners of War were French privateers. After 1650 Edinburgh Castle became an important military center; however, the Castle was not regularly visited by the ruling monarch. However, only some were impressed by the Castle, as many complained about it. The prison conditions were bleak, and the authorities locked them up in their cells just below Crown Square. The Castle was considered the most secure cell in Scotland; between 1757 and 1814, many new prisoners were sent to this jail.
Characters in the Castle
All those people who stayed in the Castle made up the characters of the Castle. In this list, we have several people about whom we will learn here.
1. Saint Magaret
The Castle’s saintly Queen, dedicated to the Queen turned Saint Margaret, has a Chapel that her son built in her memory. She earned her status as a saint in 1249 due to her renowned kindness and compassion as a queen in Scotland.
2. Mary of Guise
Mary was one of the prominent political figures and an intelligent leader who faced the political turmoil in Scotland. The situation in Scotland was so bad that even after her death in 1560, they placed her body in a coffin before sending it to France at Saint Margaret’s Chapel.
3. Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell, who became the king of England after the execution of Charles 1, was a protestant leader. He was among those few people who signed the death warrant of the beheaded king; he came to Edinburgh Castle at the time of Christmas, which he did not celebrate, and transformed the great gallery of the Castle into a military base.
4. Sir Walter Scott
If you love literature, you must have heard about Sir Walter Scott. As a novelist and poet, he worked in the public interest and took responsibility for preserving the nation’s heritage. Many people consider that the attraction Edinburgh Castle is today is the brainchild of Sir Walter Scott and George IV.
Timings of the Visit
9.30 am – 6 pm GMT from April- September.
10 am – 4 pm GMT from October to March.
Experiences in the Castle
1. Public Events
The Castle organizes various public performances, and you can also book your ticket in advance for a weekend tour of the Castle. The performances include stories from the history of Scotland and the Castle itself.
2. Concerts
Concerts are organized on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade, and the sitting areas are on steep slopes. You must go to the concert with complete preparation as the weather gets poor sometimes. The premises do not allow smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol above 500ml.
Note: You can get guided trips to Edinburgh Castle if you visit in a group. You must book online group tour tickets before coming to the site.
