Residences and military castles
Among the most visited places areEdinburgh Castle, which is located in the center of the capital at the very top of Castle Hill. This is an ancient palace with a thousand-year history, for many years it was the residence of the Scottish kings. Edinburgh Castle, which can be seen for many kilometers from all directions, attracts a significant number of tourists every year. The Royal Treasury, located in the castle, contains the royal regalia of the former rulers of Scotland - a sword, scepter and golden crown, reminiscent of the former independence of this country. The Museum of the Armed Forces of Scotland is located here, where you can see brilliant examples of medieval weapons. Not far from Edinburgh Castle, at the other end of Edinburgh's main street, which is called the Royal Mile, is such a landmark of Scotland as Holyrood Palace. This building is the official residence of the Queen of Great Britain, official receptions and state ceremonies are held here. In the palace you can see exquisite ancient halls from the times of Scottish and British kings, the main decoration of Holyrood - the private chambers of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, which contain antique works of art, paintings and tapestries. By the way, Holyrood Palace houses a famous art gallery, which exhibits more than a hundred portraits of Scottish monarchs. Stirling Castle was called the key to Scotland for its strategic importance. It is located on the top of a mountain, which is an extinct volcano, and it is called the most grandiose castle in this country. It is surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, due to which its defensive power increases dramatically. Many battles and sieges took place here, one of which lasted 4 months, until the last of the 30 soldiers who held the castle's defense died. Stirling Castle has a unique architecture, since it was repeatedly rebuilt over the centuries of its existence. The most beautiful halls, medieval statues and ancient cannons - this is only part of the splendor that you can see here. Tourists also enjoy visiting the regimental museum or walking along the fortress walls, which offer a wonderful view of the nearby hilly plain.
Mystical and religious buildings
When it comes to Glamis Castle, there is no otherThere are not so many mysterious stories and legends surrounding the historical landmark of Scotland. Mystical stories about monsters and ghosts are associated with this castle, and one of the legends says that a certain Scottish earl played cards here with the devil for his soul and lost. Glamis Castle is surrounded by parks and gardens, the area of which occupies several square kilometers. There is a real open-air museum here, which contains trees from all over the world. Exquisite halls and apartments of the castle, a small medieval chapel, a clock tower and other magnificent elements of the architectural ensemble give Glamis Castle a unique charm with a mystical touch. Among the religious monuments of antiquity, it is worth noting such a landmark as St. Giles Cathedral, which is also located in Edinburgh on the Royal Mile. This building, built in ancient times, is almost a thousand years old. Inside the cathedral is the chapel of the Order of the Thistle, an ancient knightly order founded several hundred years ago. Once a year, the monarch comes to Edinburgh specifically to conduct the initiation ceremony of new knights and ladies of this order in the chapel. The interior of the cathedral still contains medieval decorations, including heraldic carvings, memorials and religious objects. St Giles' Cathedral, as before, is an active temple of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, so visitors have the opportunity to take part in religious services held here.
National parks and reserves
Scotland is also famous for its natural beauty.landscapes. Such attractions of Scotland as the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national parks have long been under state protection. They attract tourists not only with their picturesque landscapes, but also with opportunities for active recreation, learning about Scottish history and culture, and the peculiarities of the life of the local population. Particular attention should be paid to the national reserves of Scotland, the area of which is about 95 hectares. They were created specifically to protect unique landscapes and rare species of plants, animals, and birds that live in these areas. However, these reserves are open to tourists, and anyone can get acquainted with the local flora and fauna by walking along pre-established routes. There are also protected natural areas in Scotland, which include coastal and mountainous areas, forests, cliffs, lakes, and three biosphere reserves created to preserve unique ecosystems in their original form. When listing the attractions of this region, one cannot fail to mention the famous Loch Ness, famous primarily not for its natural features, but for the mythical Loch Ness monster, which supposedly lives in its depths. There is no direct evidence of the existence of a giant monster at the bottom of the lake, so many believe that this legend is simply used by local hotel owners to attract tourists. But this does not prevent visitors from visiting these places with pleasure, immersing themselves in the mysterious atmosphere of an ancient myth.
