EDINBURGH SCOTLAND dinburgh is the capital of EScotland and the administra- tive center of the region of Lothian. Situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, an inlet in the North Sea created by the last Ice Age, it is an elegant city in a magnificent setting, surrounded by woods, hills and lochs (lakes). Edinburgh has a population of approxi- HISTORY mately 500,000, and was built on the site of extinct Much of the early history of the City is not known, however a settle- volcanoes. A glacier carved the area into two deep ment was found in the area, and it is believed to be one of the first valleys, leaving the volcanic rock on which Edinburgh places inhabited in Scotland. The ancient Britons called the area Castle stands today. ‘Dun Edin’ which means the ‘Dun’, or ‘fort on the slope’. Early Roman Many famous people have lived in Edinburgh. It was legions avoided the fortified rock and later the Angles invaded the here, in the 16th century that Mary Queen of Scots area, calling it Edwinesburg in honor of one of their Northumbrian spent most of her troubled reign. John Knox, the great Kings. St. Ninian is believed to have preached Christianity here in the religious reformer, also lived and worked here. In the 5th century, and St. Columba in the 6th century. The first Christian late 18th century the City was called “the Athen’s of church was founded in the 7th century and in that same period, the the North” because of it’s literary and academic life. fortress on the slope was rebuilt. It soon became the cultural center of Scotland and In 1329 Edinburgh received it’s Royal Charter, growing in importance. writers such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and By 1500, merchants and craft guilds flourished and the first printing Robert Louis Stevenson all lived and worked here. press in Scotland was established. In 1513 King James IV of Scotland Today Edinburgh is a professional and industrial city attacked England and the Scots suffered a severe military disaster at with printing, publishing houses, banking and insur- Flodden. In 1561 Catholic Mary Queen of Scots came from France ance offices, distilling and brewing industries. For to claim the throne of Scotland, and became the last monarch to 1,000 years Edinburgh has been Scotland’s metropo- reign solely over Scotland. Religious strife dominated the period with lis and the City’s rich historic past, attractive buildings struggles between the Catholic and Presbyterian faiths. Mary Queen and the natural beauty of it’s lovely parks and gardens of Scots’ son, James VI, became James I of England and Scotland, make it a popular tourist destination. The Edinburgh moving to London in 1603. Festival, which takes place during the month of Au- In 1688 Presbyterianism became the state religion of Scotland, and gust, is the climax of the tourist season and is thought in 1707 the United Kingdom came into being with the Act of Union, by many to be one of the world’s greatest art festivals. which joins Scotland to England. During the 18th century the new Inaugurated in 1947, it covers music, drama, exhibi- town was built and Edinburgh expanded, with gracious streets, cres- tions and dance, bringing a cosmopolitan bustle to cents and beautiful buildings. It became a center for the arts and Ed- the City. inburgh’s golden age began as poets, authors, philosophers and poli- ticians gathered here. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century added to the City’s growth and prosperity. In 1847 Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, was born in Edinburgh and later attended university here. In 1970 natural gas and oil reserves were found in Scottish waters, and a new era of wealth began, reflected in the vibrant life-styles to be found in the City today. © 2010 maps.com Lon d on Road New Town R o y a l T e r r a c e P l a c e rk t 13 Yo e Calton Hill N e . S r t. An t N w . S dr Ro 7 S ew t. Da r i o t s H e St h H a e t vi t r e d St. James' St S i t l S F r n e l . S 5 e e n Centre L i o t. A h Q u e d e r ve y n d e S dr a C . S o b r ew t. D R b Abbey Ruins a s t l l a c e s t A t S St n i c k av e e e t r eg St r id R S a t e r l o o P e t W e e t N 11 o r g e S St G e t r t r e e t C a l t o n R o a d S 12 o r 2 r e e e t e St r Statio n e r i n c e s 3 e P t h Charlotte t Wave rley e t R o s e a t Square n g T B r o e e t 4 East M ar ket St r eet n n St r h a e C e t i t r e S d g e d P r i n c e s M k e t e ) a a r M i l o 10 o u M R n y a l d R o S t d h e . (T o t M r o r e e S o a l y S t r i g h Old y o 9 H 's H G u t S Town t K e i o h e ng 8 v 's S 1 r g i ta P b B r e e le a t l s w g o r i e D R ace I C a o r r V ad e et t s T r e d e s St re ' o n B s t a h n st r g S Jo e n rket r b d n a i m e n o c e ssm dg C h a a m e Gr m e e ru 6 D u t Q or P N est P S W o i t c . t o L t l e s e o o n r n a r r S d o t ' s w r e S e t 0 1/2 mile t EDINBURGH PLACES OF INTEREST occupies the Canongate Tollbooth, close to Holyrood House. Edinburgh Castle dominates the City, on a site that has National Gallery of Scotland is located just east of the 1 been fortified since the 5th century, with three of it’s sides 4 ‘Mound’, off Princes Street. Exhibits include a wide range virtually unassailable. St. Margaret’s Chapel is the oldest of paintings by artists such as; Rembrandt, Turner, Degas, building in the Castle, dating from 1110. The regalia of Scot- Monet and Van Gogh, as well as a fine collection of Scottish tish Monarchs, the crown, scepter and sword, are on display art. in the Crown Room. The Castle also contains the Scottish Edinburgh Experience features a portrayal of the his- United Services Museum displaying a collection of Highland tory of Edinburgh, shown in 3D. weaponry. The ‘One O’clock Gun’ has been fired from the 5 Castle, every weekday since 1851 as a signal to ships. There Royal Museum of Scotland, located on Chambers are outstanding views to be seen from the Castle’s battle- 6 Street, contains exhibits relating to natural history, ar- ments. Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle to Holy- chaeology, scientific and industrial history, and the evolution rood House and follows an incline created during the last Ice of man. Of particular interest are a display of Celtic harps and Age, that becomes the solid, black volcanic crag on which the chessmen carved from walrus ivory, dating from the Middle Castle stands. Ages. Holyrood House at the end of Scottish National Portrait Gallery is located on Queen 2 Royal Mile, is Scotland’s premier 7 Street. The Gallery contains a splendid Gainsborough Royal Palace and the official residence and portraits by the Scottish artists, Ramsey and Raeburn. of Queen Elizabeth II when visiting Scot- St. Gile’s Cathedral on the Royal Mile, was once the land. The Palace has a long and interest- 8 City’s parish church. It became a Cathedral in 1633, al- ing history, having been burned several though most of the present building dates from 1829. The times, with only the great tower surviving. Spire was built in 1495, the Choir in the 15th century, and four It was rebuilt in 1650 by Oliver Cromwell, of the interior columns date from as early as the 12th century. only to be rebuilt yet again 10 years later by Charles II, in the There has been a church on this site since 854. style of Louis XIV, as it remains today. Camera Obscura, also on Royal Mile, occupies a build- People’s Story is a museum dedicated to the history of 9 ing dating from the 17th century, having undergone con- 3 the people of Edinburgh since the late 18th century and siderable alterations in the mid 19th century to install various optical instruments.