Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most historic buildings in Scotland and has huge significant importance as a fortress which dominates the skyline of Edinburgh. During archaeologist digs it was established that there has been human occupation on the rock since the Iron Age. Since the 12th century there has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of David I in the 12th century. The site had continued to be a royal residence until 1633 and from the 15th century onwards this declined and by the 17th century, the main use was that of a military barracks with a large garrison. It is a very stronghold in the Kingdom of Scotland and has been involved is lots of historical conflicts the war of independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite rising in 1745. Research from 2014 identified it been “the most besieged places in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world” with 26 sieges over its 1100 year old history. Presently it is one of Scotland’s most visited paid attractions with over 2.1 million visitors in 2018 with over 70% of leisure visitors coming to Edinburgh visiting the castle.