Stirling Castle is a large castle in Scotland, originally built of wood and rebuilt in stone in the late 13th century. It has been captured and recaptured eight times and is open to the public. The oldest surviving section is the North Gate, built in 1381. The palace is quadrangular with a central courtyard known as the lion’s den. Visitors can see the King and Queen’s living quarters as they may have looked in the 16th century. The castle has many areas and buildings to explore and a short audio-visual tour is available.
Stirling Castle is located in Stirling and is one of the largest castles in Scotland. Situated 250 feet (about 76 metres) up Castle Hill, the castle was originally built of wood and rebuilt in stone in the late 13th century. Today, most of the buildings that remain date from the 15th century, and there are some 13th- and 14th-century structures. The castle was captured and recaptured eight times between the 13th and 15th during the wars of independence. The structure is open to the public all year round and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
The North Gate is the oldest surviving section of the castle and was built in 1381 during the reign of Robert II, or better known as Robert the Bruce. Some oddities of the castle’s history include a full-sized ship that was brought into the Great Hall during a banquet for Prince Henry’s christening in 1594. The oldest soccer ball in the world has been found at the castle. It was discovered embedded in the rafters of the building and dates back to 1540. Mary Queen of Scots spent her childhood at Stirling Castle.
The palace is quadrangular in shape with a central courtyard known as the lion’s den. King James V actually kept a lion at the castle and some say this is where the creature was housed. The lion is the heraldic symbol of the King of Scotland. Beneath the castle are medieval vaults and interactive displays inform visitors about the lives of the people who have lived at the court over the centuries. The exhibits are continually being revised and there is an exhibition which allows visitors to see the skeletons of a real medieval knight and his lady which have been found under a royal chapel.
Stirling Castle is considered one of the best examples of architecture of that period in Europe. Visitors can enter the Royal Palace and step back in time to the 1500s and imagine life in the royal court, as well as see the King and Queen’s living quarters as they may have looked in the 16th century. The Great Hall dates from the late Middle Ages.
The castle has many areas and buildings to explore and a good starting point is the short audio-visual tour. This lies beneath the 1714 fortifications which border Queen Anne Gardens. Tour guides are available and the entire tour can take up to a few hours to complete.
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