When visiting Scotland's capital there is one landmark that all tourists make their way to and it's one that dominates the city's skyline - Edinburgh Castle.

The Scots are extremely proud of the castle and quite rightly, too. Work was started on the castle in 1130 by David I, who ordered the building of Saint Margaret's Chapel, which was named after his mother. This chapel still stands today and is the oldest surviving building in the city.

Another prominent feature was David's Tower which was named after David II after he had ordered the rebuilding of the castle. English cannon fire during a siege in 1573 destroyed the tower but the ruins are still visible, albeit underneath the Half-Moon Battery - a replacement tower filled with cannons that was built in 1588.

For much of its history the castle switched hands between the Scottish and English, and for much of the time it was under siege. The last attack was in 1745 when Bonnie Prince Charlie failed to capture the castle during the Jacobite uprising.

History obviously plays a big part in this attraction and some of the traditions of yesteryears are kept alive to this day. Six days of the week - Sundays are excluded - a 25-pounder gun is fired from the top of the castle at one o'clock. This tradition began in 1861, to help nearby sailors know the time.

Another spectacle ongoing to this day is the Military Tattoo that is held annually in August. The tattoo includes a military band, regimental marching and a fireworks display. The regiments and band march from the castle, traversing the Royal Mile towards Holyrood Palace and this is watched by around 200,000 people who adorn the streets each year, as well as those who watch it on television the world over.

The most prized possessions in the castle are The Honours of Scotland and these are kept in the Crown Room. These items - the Crown of Scotland, the Sceptre, the Sword of State and the Stone of Scone - are linked to Scottish nationality and have twice been buried (first in the 17th century to evade capture by Oliver Cromwell and again in the 1940s in case the Nazis invaded) to secure their safekeeping. Since 1953 they have been on continuous display.

The castle also played its part in the Second World War as a prisoner of war camp. It is said that Scottish prisoners of wars, on returning on their Edinburgh flights, all made their way to Edinburgh Castle to make a sign of solidarity against the enemy.

The castle has a lot of history to show and tell and as one of the leading attractions in Edinburgh the tourist body have put a lot of effort into making it an interesting day out for all. With so much on show it can be worth spending a whole day at the castle and even then you may find that you haven't had time to fully take in everything there is to see.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com