Monumental Highlights of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and known for its cultural and architectural heritage. The city has a long history and has long been the centre of literature, philosophy, engineering and education. The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1582 and is considered to be one of the best research institutions in the world. The Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government and the highest court of Scotland are seated in Edinburgh.

The Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. A few famous cultural institutions are the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery and the National Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle is located on a hill named Castle Rock, a volcanic rock. For centuries the castle was used as royal residence. Around the 17th century the castle was used by the military with barracks and a large garrison. Many historical conflicts have taken place at Edinburgh Castle. The most well-known is the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. The castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland and the second most-visited in the United Kingdom. The Scottish Ministers are owners of the castle and it’s open to the public. To avoid long queues I recommend to book online tickets a day before you are planning to visit, via the official website of Edinburgh Castle. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).