Sights City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh Castle is a complex of buildings of different periods, the oldest of which - the Chapel of St.. Margarita - dates back to XI century. Here are kept the Scottish royal regalia - crown, scepter and sword.

Edinburgh Castle is located in the heart of Edinburgh. It can be seen from anywhere in the city, on the dominant height of about forever zatuhshego volcanic peaks, three of which the slope under the action of the glacier became almost precipitous. At the entrance to the castle every hour there is a change of the guard. Inside the castle, there is Mills Mount Battery, where every weekend you can see the rifle salute, Palace of XV-XVI century, which are on display jewelry kings; Museum of Scotland and the Scottish Joint Forces Memorial, established in 1920 in memory of the people's war.

Ancient Fortress
The top of an extinct volcano was carried up to 135 meters above sea level, is here almost 3 thousand years ago, was erected bearing strength. The man lived on the top of the cliff as far back as the Bronze Age about 1000 years BC. Capacity was built tribe of Celts Votadini and was called Din Eidyn.

Royal Castle
King Malcolm III built near the Gulf of Forth in Dunfermline his hunting lodge in about 1070. His son, King David erected here a small chapel of St. Margaret at the top of the cliff.

Garrison
Do not just been a long siege. It was here in 1650, Oliver Cromwell arranged his headquarters to Scotland. Here in 1818 the royal treasures have been discovered in Scotland, hidden there since the signing of the union of crowns in 1707.

The castle is open for tourists from 9-30 to 18-00 on a daily basis in the period from April to September and from 9-30 to 17-00 from October to March.

Holirudsky Palace - the official residence of the British Queen in Scotland. This palace has witnessed many dramatic events in the life of the infamous Mary Stuart. Edinburgh Castle is often referred to as unassailable, but he has repeatedly been subjected not only the siege but also to take. Residents of the city check the exact time of the gun volley, come from the castle fortifications at exactly one o'clock every day except Sunday. To the east of the castle hill is located Kelton Hill, which established the National Monument, Monument Nelson and observatory.

At the northern foot of the picturesque park spreads rocks that separates the castle from the so-called New Town - the vast business and shopping district, where the monument to Sir Walter Scott (in the city, there is another monument to the writer, along with Burns and Stevenson, it is deservedly revered as the pride of Scottish literature) Royal Bank of Scotland building on the area of St. Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) and the Charlotte area with the most beautiful buildings of the XVIII century.

As Edinburgh is best to walk. There are often two streets leading to the same place, but with a difference of 10-20 meters in height. Therefore, the staircase - it is a mandatory part of the landscape and are sometimes very long.

Old Town consists primarily of street High Street (High Street), which is part of the Royal Mile Street (Royal Mile). Outside the Royal Mile you can see the unusual architecture cathedral church of St. Giles was built in 1829 using elements of the older buildings, the majestic building of the town meeting (City Chambers), numerous monuments and old houses. Dean Village (The Dean Village) stretches west from downtown to the Valley Lake. 800 years ago there were many mills.

In August in Edinburgh attracts crowds of well-known International Festival of theater and music, during which arranged hundreds of submissions of artists from around the world. This festival - the only one in the world in its scope and diversity represented in its art forms: dance, music, theater, circus, etc.. The first festival was held in 1947 and since then he has been held annually. Its emblem is the thistle, it also is the emblem of Scotland.

Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh can claim the title of one of the best gardens in the world. And not only that, here represented by more than fifteen thousand species of plants, but also that this unique collection is an extremely attractive and original design of exhibitions.

Edinburgh Zoo is part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, registered charity. The purpose of the zoo "to please visitors of amazing animals, and thus promote the protection of animals threatened with extinction."

Edinburgh Zoo opened in 1913 in the hilly park with lots of trees in ten minutes from downtown. As the world's leading zoo, he participates in many programs for the protection and breeding of animals.

The zoo is famous for its large family of penguins. There is a very large family of penguins in the world. Suspension bridge over their pool, as well as the glass walls of the pool gives a wonderful opportunity to observe these unusual creatures.

In the Scottish Whiskey Heritage Center tourist can learn about all the intricacies of making whiskey, tasting different kinds of whiskey, and even some of them to buy. The Center is open daily from 10-00 to 17-30.

In 1128, King David I, according to legend, hunted Castle Holyroodhouse. One day, his frightened horse from nowhere who undertook a deer. King was on the ground, but managed to grab for a deer horn, when he was ready to kill David. Then the horns of an animal magically became the Crucifixion, and the king promised to build on this spot Abbey Holyrood, which translates as Holy Cross.

A Fringe Festival offers more eccentric and original selection of productions, along with nocturnal procession of drums and skirts of Edinburgh, the Scottish military show. In museums and galleries in the city can spend time during the day, while at night you can relax in the pubs, go to the club, often with music, theater or a restaurant overlooking the harbor.

Shopping, souvenirs
Excellent shops are located on Princess Street and George Street, where you can buy tartan carpets, cashmere sweaters, antiques, clothing designers, or any number of crafts, gifts and art objects. Together with a checkered tartan (Shetland) whiskey, probably the best known export product of Scotland.

Edinburgh is interesting and in their daily lives. There's always a lot of tourists, running around the city in search of "Scottish coloring" - tissue in the cell, tweed suits, bagpipes and the like.

That's really something that a bagpipe is there necessarily. While in Scotland will not stop driving tourists, bagpipes will not stop the subject of national pride. These heart-rending sounds quickly remind you that the bagpipes - a military tool, used mainly in the war, for fueling the fighting spirit.

On the streets of Edinburgh's piper always gather around him a small crowd. Perhaps under other circumstances, none of the onlookers would not voluntarily listen to these sounds, but to go to Scotland and did not hear the bagpipes - it's the same thing to come to Moscow and did not look at the Kremlin.

Interestingly, the "dawdle" in spite of Russian meaning of the word - even a very simple matter, so usually the coveted place are just two craftsmen - one is playing, and the second in a time of gaining strength.