Things that Set Edinburgh Castle Apart

Most of you already know a lot about Edinburgh Castle, such as it is the most famous fortress in Scotland since the 13th century. But there are some lesser-known facts that make Edinburgh Castle stand out from others. Today, we will talk about some hidden facts of Edinburgh Castle that might encourage you to visit this spectacular fort.

Edinburgh Castle is not a single castle, there is a complex of buildings from different eras of history, and the St. Margaret’s Chapel is amongst the oldest surviving buildings that belong to the early 12th century. Similar to this, there are many things that most of the tourists don’t know about Edinburgh Castle. So, let’s have a look at some of these hidden facts and stories.

1. It used to be a royal residence

Edinburgh Castle has been a home to various Scottish and English monarchs,military troops, and the Sheriff of Edinburgh used to live in it at different points in history. Also, as Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, rulers who stayed at the castle used to be in charge of the whole country. It has been the centre of control during various fierce battles, such as when Edward 1st tried to take the throne when English forces tried to capture Mary in the 16th century and some others.

In 1650, the castle was taken by the English forces after executing Charles 1st. Till 1757, many attempts were made to recapture the fort, and in the 19th century, it was used as a place to contain English military prisoners.

2. When it was built, and who built it?

The Edinburgh Castle was built in the 11th century on Castle Rock by the son of Saint Margaret of Scotland, who was known as King David 1st. He made an imposing structure of the building, which later named as Edinburgh Castle. It was built as a royal residence for the prince and stayed a military base for a long time. Though most of the buildings are old, some construction keeps going at the castle even today.

3. The Great Hall

Situated at the Southside of Crown Square, the Great Hall was built in the 15th century shortly before the demise of King James IV. Earlier, it was used for state ceremonies, and as a meeting room for the Scottish parliament. After 1640, under the occupation of Cromwell, it was used as a barracks and then as a military hospital. Though most of the part of the hall has been changed, the ceilings of the hall still the same. Now, this hall is used to showcase a collection of arms and armour.

4. The National War Museum of Scotland

Formally known as the military museum, it was founded in the 19th century to display uniforms, weapons, armours, and other belongings of the Scottish regiments. Apart from that, there are various paintings and pictures in the museum, such as Robert Gibb’s Thin Red Line. Although the National War Museum is not the only museum in Edinburgh Castle, there are two more regimental museums that portray the history of the regiment from the 17th century when King Charles II founded it. So, visiting these museums will take you back to the time when the Scottish were fighting to save their territory.

Author's Note

These are a few things that most touristsdon’t know about Edinburgh Castle. So, if you are visiting Edinburgh Castle, make sure you give this article a good read. Also, if you’re planning to visit Edinburgh Castle from London’s City airport, then it is recommended to book London city airport taxi transfers from Jewels Airport Transfers to have a pleasant and comfortable ride to Edinburgh Castle.