Buzzwords
and comparisons like "Athens of the North," or "Gateway
to Scotland," don't do justice to what is probably the most
beautiful city in the British Isles. Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-burra
by the Scots) lies in the Central Valley of Scotland, with castles
upon hills in Southern Uplands below, and the mountains and coastlines
of the Highlands above. The world has felt the impact of this
land through the novels and poetry of Robert Burns, Sir Walter
Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; heard
the legends of William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots; but Edinburgh,
the city itself, must be experienced to be known.
The little walled town of Edinburgh
was founded on an extinct volcano, where Edinburgh Castle now
sits. The city has grown over the years into a thriving metropolis
that still preserves its "quaint village" ambiance,
with large gardens and spectacular neoclassical architecture everywhere.
Continuously voted as the best place to live in the UK, hundreds
of thousands of people live in the city now, yet the old ways
live on in places like the neighborhood pubs. The most exciting
event of the year is the Edinburgh International Festival every
August, when a million people flock to the city, make a lot of
noise, get a lot of culture, and have a ton of fun.
Areas Within the
Destination
Old
Town: Castle Rock is the seat of the often-beleaguered
Edinburgh Castle, which was the defensive foundation of the medieval
city and is now it is the most popular tourist site in Scotland.
Within the castle is the oldest building in Edinburgh, the 900
year-old Saint Margaret's Chapel built in honor of the wife King
Malcolm III. For nearly a thousand years, the tiny chapel has
withstood countless military invasions and is still used for military
marriages. Mons Meg, a massive 15th-century cannon, is also in
castle, and with a distance of 1½ miles, it earned the
nickname "the Muckle Murderer," starting the institution
of the One O'Clock Gun. The Grassmarket and the Lawnmarket surround
the castle and are medieval sites of agricultural and clothing
markets. From the Castle to the royal residence at Holyrood Palace
runs the Royal Mile, the High Street of the Old Town and site
of important buildings such asJohn Knox's House and the Moubray
House. St. Giles Cathedral has inhabited this street since the
12th century, though only 4 pillars of the original building still
stand. Branching off of the Royal Mile are many interesting areas
such as the George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row. Here also is
Brodie's Close, named after Francis Brodie, whose son William
was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde.
New
Town: The world-renowned Princes Street is the main thoroughfare
in the New Town, which offers plenty of shopping, food, and a
dramatic view of the Edinburgh Castle. Walk along this mile-long
street and you'll find the Royal Scottish Academy, the National
Gallery, and the monument to Sir Walter Scott with his dog Maida.
Plans for the New Town included 2 churches at the parallel squares,
St. Andrew's and Charlotte's, but the influential Sir Lawrence
Dundas was able to alter the plans and acquire the site for his
own mansion, so the St. Andrew's church ended up on nearby George
Street. Calton Hill offers the best view of the Old and New Towns,
and is the site of the National Monument. The Royal Museum of
Scotland and Scottish National Portrait Gallery share a home on
Queens Street on one end, and the beautiful Georgian House (furnished
as it would have been in 1796) on the other.
