29/09/2020
Edinburgh History and Edinburgh Castle begins on the rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands. The rock was formed 70 million years ago. Recent archaeological excavations in Edinburgh Castle have uncovered evidence that Bronze-Age man was living on the rock as long ago as 850 BC. Two thousand years ago, during the Iron Age, the rock had a hill-fort settlement on its summit. Edinburgh Castle is an ancient fortress which, from its position atop Castle Rock, dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, and is Scotland's second most visited tourist attraction, after the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. As it stands today though, few of the castle's structures pre-date the 16th century, with the notable exception of St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, which dates from the early 12th century. The Castle has a strong connection with the Army. Sentries still stand watch at the castle gatehouse between 6pm and 9am, with responsibility for guarding the Honours of Scotland. Against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle on the esplanade, the world famous Massed Pipes and Drums together with the Massed Military Bands of the Band of the Royal regiment of Scotland were amongst those who took part in the 2007 Military Tattoo in August 2007.
