Tour
Edinburgh, Scotland's Capital City
History
and beauty unite this proud capital, dubbed 'The Athens
of the North'. It is a tale of two cities where a dramatic
balance exists between the high, dark buildings of the medieval
Old Town and the classical architecture of the Georgian
New Town. The Georgian period also saw the city grow as
a cultural centre -- a tradition kept alive today by the
annual summer Edinburgh Festival.
Book hotels in Edinburgh
Brass
Rubbing Centre
Collection
of replicas moulded from ancient Pictish stones, rare Scottish
brasses and medieval church brasses, with facilities for
making rubbings.
Calton
Hill
A
collection of monuments mark 350ft hill, with magnificent
views of castle and Arthur's Seat. Part reproduction of
Parthenon, and replica of Lysicrates' monument show why
city is known as 'Athens of the North'. Nearby stand City
Observatory and mon-uments to Bums and Nelson.
Camera
Obscura
Observation
tower near castle, with panoramic views of city. Guide tells
story of Edinburgh while visitors watch revolving image
of city.
Canongate
Kirk
Restored
17th-century church, built by order of James VII to serve
parishioners of Canongate, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh
Castle. Buried in the churchyard are economist Adam Smith
and 18th-century poet Robert Fergusson.
Canongate
Tolbooth
Has
served as a courthouse and prison since it was built in
1591. Building now houses The Pee pie's Story --
an exhibition which illustrates the life and works of Edinburgh
citizens, from late 18th century to present day. Also includes
restored prison cell.
Chambers
Street
The
Heriot-Watt University, founded in 1854, stands among buildings
of the University of Edinburgh, founded 1582. Robert Adam
designed impressive 'Old College' in 1789.
City
Art Centre
Converted
warehouse with four floors of changing exhibitions and displays
from the city's collection of paintings.
Edinburgh
Castle
Home
of Scottish kings and queens from centuries past, dominating
the city from its perch of volcanic rock. The Scottish Crown
jewels are kept in the Old Royal Palace, where Mary, Queen
of Scots gave birth to future King James VI of Scotland,
James I of England. Within castle walls are National War
Memorial, 13ft long Mons Meg cannon and the city's oldest
building -- 12th-century St Margaret's chapel.
Edinburgh
Dungeon
An
eerie atmosphere is evoked with sounds, smells and settings
based on Scotland's history in the 'Historical Torture Museum'.
Edinburgh
University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments
More
than 1000 items including around 350 woodwind instruments,
250 stringed and 150 brass. Also percussion and bagpipes.
Floral
Clock
Oldest
in the world, built 1903 in Princes Street Gardens. Almost
l2 ft in diameter and filled with 230,000 flowers.
Georgian
House
A
selection of rooms furnished as they might have been during
the city's 'Golden Age' in 1796. China, silver and furniture.
Bathroom with mahogany and brass lavatory. House lies in
elegantly designed Charlotte Square, which dates from late
18th century.
Gladstone's
Land
Early
17th-century six-storey tenement, with main floors restored
as typical home of the period. Contains remarkable painted
ceilings. Copies of 17th-century goods in replica shop booth.
Greyfriars
Kirk
Site
of the signing of the National Covenant in 1638, rejecting
Anglicanism and asserting Scotland's right to decide its
own destiny. Outside is a statue of 'Greyfriars Bobby';
famous Skye terrier who watched over his master's grave
in the kirkyard for 14 years.
Holyrood
Abbey
Picturesque
ruins uf Chapel Royal of Holyroodhouse, founded in 1128
by King David I. Old vault contains the remains of several
Scottish monarchs.
Huntly
House Museum
Principal
museum of local history, housed in a restored 16th-century
town mansion. Includes National Covenant of 1638 and collections
of Edinburgh silver and glass.
John
Knox House
Museum
in house with numerous gables, outside stair and elaborate
carvings, dating from 15th century. Associated with John
Knox, Scotland's religious reformer, and James Mossman,
goldsmith to Mary, Queen of Scots. Gold-smith's workshop
and Knox's library with 'preaching window', from which he
is said to have addressed crowds below.
Lady
Stair's House
Museum
devoted to Scotland's greatest literary figures: Robert
Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Includes
portraits, relics and manuscripts.
Magdalen
Chapel
One
of the city's oldest surviving buildings, dating from the
16th century, notable for its stained-glass windows. Now
serves as chapel of Heriot-Watt University.
Mercat
Cross
Restored
cross, containing part of the 14th-century original, is
still the appointed place for royal proclamations. Here
in 1513 crowds heard of the death of James IV at Flodden
Field.
Museum
of Childhood
Fun-filled
museum devoted solely to the history of childhood. Vast
collection of historic toys, dolls, games, books and costumes.
National
Gallery of Scotland
Unrivalled
collection of Scottish paintings. Also has masterpieces
from the Renaissance to 20th century, by artists such as
Raphael, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
National
Monument
Twelve
Doric pillars, modelled on the Parthenon, commemorating
Scottish dead in the Napoleonic Wars. Intended to be a church,
but funds dried up two years after work started in 1824.
Nelson
Monument
Built
1815, lO6 ft high, with magnificent views over city and
Firth of Forth from parapets. Naval flags are flown each
year on October 21 to commemorate Nelson's victory and death
at the battle of Trafalgar.
North
Bridge
Built
across the chasm formed when the Nor' Loch was drained in
1760, it divides the Old and New towns. The current cast-iron
bridge dates from the 1890s.
Old
Tolbooth
Heart-shaped
pattern of cobble-stones set in pavement, marks site of
vanished 15th-century prison, demolished in 1817. It provided
the opening scene in Sir Walter Scott's famous romantic
novel Heart of Midlothian.
Palace
of Holyroodhouse
The
official Scottish residence of the Queen dates from the
late 15th century, but was reconstructed for Charles II
in the 17th century. Mary, Queen of Scots came here in 1561
and stayed for six tragic years. State apartments house
tapestries, paintings and furniture, and the picture gallery
has portraits of 89 Scottish kings. Adjoining palace is
Holyrood Park, rich in animal and plant life.
Parliament
House
Built
1632-9, seat of the Scottish government until Union with
England in 1707. Now the supreme law courts of Scotland.
Parliament Hall is a Gothic chamber, 120ft long, with a
fine hammerbeam roof and portraits by Raeburn. Statue of
Sir Walter Scott stands beside library.
Princes
Street
Scotland's
greatest thoroughfare, built in 1805, famous for its shops,
public buildings and spectacular panorama of the Old Town
and castle. its south side is flanked by fine gardens. At
one end is the Scott Monument.
Regimental
Museum of The Royal Scots
Bursting
with memorabilia of the British Army's most senior Regular
Regiment, formed in 1633. Displays include silver, weapons,
medals and campaign relics.
Register
House
Robert
Adams building, designed in 1722, has Scottish National
archives from the 12th century.
Scott
Monument
Marble
statue of novelist Sir Walter Scott.
St.
Giles Cathedral
The
High Kirk of Edinburgh with its famous spire.
And
much, much, more.....
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