Monuments to visit Scotland

A ^14th century tower, surrounded by a ^16th century wall. This tower-house is one of the oldest in Scotland. Robert the Bruce had visited it. Mary Stuart was invited there before being imprisoned in 1567, her host becoming her jailer, then freed by the son of her keeper. She miscarried there, was forced to abdicate in favor of her son James VI. Note the staircase built backwards for the keeper at the time, who was left-handed! Boats leave for the castle every day during the summer.

It is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen when she is in Scotland. At the exact opposite of the castle, at the bottom of the Royal Mile, she spends a week there at the beginning of each summer to conduct receptions and ceremonies in the capital. The site was occupied from 1128 by Holyrood Abbey, whose ruins can still be seen in the gardens. At the beginning of the 16th century, James IV and V built a palace there and definitively established political power in Edinburgh. The various conflicts of the second half of the century caused a lot of damage. Renovations began at the beginning of the 17th century, before Cromwell's troops ravaged a large part of the building in 1650. After the Restoration, a complete reconstruction of the palace is planned and the face it bears today is mainly given to it between 1671 and 1678, with a square plan of 70 meters on each side. After the 1707 Act of Union between Scotland and England, Holyrood lost his main functions. It was seized by the Jacobites in 1745 and Bonnie Prince Charlie courted it for a few weeks. From 1796 to 1803, the Count of Artois, the future Charles X of France, lived here in exile. The French royal family even returned from 1830 to 1832, after the July Revolution. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, the interiors were partially restored and adapted to the comfort of the time.

State Apartments reflect the influences of successive monarchs. They are particularly famous for their decorated tapestries and ceilings. The highlight of the show is the superb Great Gallery, the largest room in the palace. There are 89 portraits of legendary and true kings of Scotland. They were painted by Jan de Wet between 1684 and 1686. You can also discover the dining room, the throne room and the various reception rooms used to date by the Queen on various occasions, such as the sumptuous Morning Drawing Room. The sumptuous furniture of Charles II's King's Bedchamber is impressive and the various antechambers are richly decorated.

Mary Queen of Scots' (Mary Stuart's) room is located in the northwest tower of the palace, just above the Darnley Rooms where her second husband, Henry Stuart (Lord Darnley) lived. Many intimate objects that belonged to him are kept there. In particular, there is a tragic portrait depicting the Queen in mourning costume, with a scene in the background depicting her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. The carved oak wood oratory where she isolated herself every day to pray is also there and the splendid Lennox Jewel, a heart-shaped pendant decorated with an emerald, is also remembered, which is said to have been made for Margaret Douglas, Mary Stuart's mother-in-law, to commemorate the deaths of her husband (Matthew Stuart) and her son (Henry Stuart). The latter was responsible for Holyrood's most famous drama: on March 9, 1566, he had Davide Rizzio, Mary's closest advisor, murdered. The crime took place in her room, right in front of her, while Henry himself held her while his men stabbed the unfortunate 56 times.

Holyrood Abbey is located in the gardens of the palace. It is the first building on the site, erected in 1128 by King David I. It would take its name from the Holy Cross, "rood" in ancient Scottish. Several coronations, weddings and funerals of members of the royal family took place there.

It is without doubt the most famous and mediatised of the Scottish castles. Absolutely everything makes an image of Épinal des Highlands: its location on an island, its small bridge, the loch and the mountains that surround it, its robustness both simple and noble, its medieval facade evocative of a rich history ... Its first walls were erected in the 13th century and it was then on the border of the Norse kingdom of the islands, giving it an important defensive position. It then became one of the strongholds of the MacKenzie clan and did not really have to suffer the wars of independence. However, the same cannot be said of the Jacobite uprisings, which put him to a severe test. In 1719, it was even occupied by the Spanish, who were then on the side of the insurgents against England. 46 soldiers were stationed there with 343 barrels of powder, waiting for reinforcements. London decided to take the lead and send three frigates to bomb it heavily. The English finally succeeded in capturing the fortress and used the powder to destroy it. On the basis of its ruins and original plans, Eilean Donan was rebuilt identically two centuries later, in 1932.

Since then, he has become a tourist and even movie star, with numerous appearances on the big screen, notably in the movie Highlander, where he is presented as the MacLeod headquarters (which was never actually the case), as well as in the James Bond movie Le Monde ne suffit pas, as the Scottish HQ of MI6.

Few buildings are as central to Scottish history as this one. The earliest written records date back to the ^12th century, when King Alexander ^I had a chapel built here. It would appear that he made it the seat of his power, as it was here that he died before his successor, David ^I, consecrated the town as a royal burgh . By the time Alexander III died in 1286, it was a major administrative and strategic center. When Edward ^I of England invaded the country in 1296, he found the fortress abandoned and placed a garrison there, which was dislodged the following year by Andrew Moray and William Wallace. The following summer, the English victory at Falkirk forced the Independents to abandon the city, before taking it back in 1299. However, they lost it again in 1304, when the English deployed 17 siege engines. Their new monarch, Edward II, was unable to protect Stirling, which came under the authority of Robert, since crowned King of Scots, after the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The city was English from 1236 to 1242, before falling into the hands of the future Robert II, guaranteeing its Scottish future. The country being finally pacified, the Stuarts built a real palace there and multiplied the works during the Renaissance. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned queen there before her departure for the French court. She made a habit of visiting it regularly and had her newborn son, James, the future sovereign of Scotland and England, baptized there and spent his childhood there. Following the Union of the two crowns in 1603, Stirling's role declined sharply and the castle became primarily a defensive place during the religious troubles. Today, a visit to the castle takes you back to this rich and eventful past.

To see: We discover the historic chapel, the impressive Great Hall, but also the royal palace. The apartments of the queen and the king are of great beauty. Do not miss the kitchens, the tapestry exhibition and the Regimental Museum of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. All brought to life by a costumed staff, as well as free guided tours every hour between 10am and 5pm.

Will you see the ghosts of the castle? It is said that ghosts would live here... One would be dressed as a Highlander, in a kilt, and that he could approach visitors to talk to them and would disappear immediately. In other versions, visitors would think of a guide, would approach him and he would vanish into thin air. One also speaks about a green lady..

The University of Glasgow is a little architectural marvel. Founded in 1451, it is the fourth oldest of the English-speaking countries and one of the best in the world. Originally located near the Cathedral in the city centre, it moved to its present premises in 1870. Its students often boast of studying at Hogwarts because of its distinctive style. If you don't want to take the guided tour, at least come and take a look at the buildings and courtyards. It also has some excellent museums, which contribute to the attractiveness of the area. They are named after William Hunter, a famous anatomist and leading local academic figure. Along the way: walk through Professor Square, visit the University Chapel with its superb stained glass windows, climb the Lion and Unicorn Staircase,stroll through the quadrangles (and discover the local tradition-superstition concerning its grounds) and, above all, don't miss the superb cloisters, emblematic of the building and seen in many films and series, including Outlander.

Hunterian Museum (University Avenue, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): studies geology and anatomy, with many rare minerals, fossils and specimens under glass. It also talks about different cultures around the world, from Roman Scotland to Glasgow medicine. He boasts 1.5 million items in his collection, including a sarcophagus with a mummified body, a diplodocus leg, and coconut fibre armour brought back from the South Pacific.

Hunterian Art Gallery (82 Hillhead Street, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): the artistic side of the previous attraction, this is where all art lovers will come to see works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Chardin, Whistler or Stubbs.

Mackintosh House (82 Hillhead Street, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): right next to the Hunterian Art Gallery, this house is a reconstruction of the house where Charles Rennie Mackintosh lived. Destroyed during an extension of the campus, it had not been designed by the architect himself, but allows one to immerse oneself in his daily life, reproduced identically.

Hunterian Zoology Museum (82 Hillhead Street, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm): west of the Hunterian Museum on campus, this small zoology museum displays many taxidermy items, but also some living species, such as insects, lizards, snakes and invertebrates.

This is where Queen Mother Elizabeth grew up, making it the second home attached to this illustrious figure. She gave birth here to Princess Margaret, sister of Her Majesty Elizabeth II. Its L-shaped plan, beautiful pink stones and elegant turrets house some of the country's most stunning interiors. Guided tours (free of charge) depart regularly. They will give you the opportunity to hear about ghosts... Stroll through the pleasant gardens where several paths invite you to walk and have lunch in the castle kitchens.

Scone Palace. To sound local, pronounce it scoune palace. This place has immense importance in Scotland's royal heritage. 1500 years ago it was the capital of the Picts, when they ruled Scotland. It is a historic coronation place for the country's monarchs. Indeed, Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II are among the thirty-eight kings who have been crowned there. The ritual was to hold the ceremony on top of Moot Hill and the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, which is now on display in Edinburgh Castle and has had a chequered history. A chapel now stands on the site where Kenneth MacAlpin became the first king of Scotland in 838, and a replica of the famous stone has been placed there.

Palace.

The original palace dates back to the 12th century, but was replaced in 1812 by the Georgian marvel we see today. Every room is a feast of luxury and pageantry, with valuable furniture, magnificent paintings and fine decorative art.

Gardens. The gardens are the playground of deer and highland cows. In the Pinetum, there are magnificent and rare specimens of giant sequoia and fir trees. This part of the garden is completed by the Douglas Pavilion, created in honour of the explorer and local boy David Douglas, plant hunter and discoverer of the Douglas pine, hence the name of the pavilion. It is also open free of charge in winter from Friday to Sunday.

It was on board the gigantic three-masted ship named RRS Discovery that Captain Robert Falcon Scott went to discover the South Pole in 1901. The mastodon was built in Dundee and was then the first ship to be equipped with 1,800 horsepower in a triple-explosion engine to split the Antarctic ice. Now you can discover her and her crew's exciting adventure at Discovery Point, on the city's docks, and visit the ship from top to bottom. The museum area reveals all the secrets of this great human adventure.

It's Scotland's postcard par excellence: Urquhart Castle enjoys an absolutely breathtaking location on the banks of Loch Ness, scanning the horizon and the apparitions of Nessie. Its ruins that can be seen today date from the 13th to the 16th century. Abandoned in the 17th century, it was partly destroyed in 1692 to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Jacobites. Now only the romantic shadow of past greatness remains, but the panorama from the top of Grant Tower is grandiose. The Visitor Centre completes the tour.

Dunrobin Castle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland and its style is particularly rare and refined. Some even see it as the country's most accomplished nobleman's residence. It was the seat of the Earls of Sutherland and the Sutherland clan, and traces its origins to the Middle Ages, but suffered much deterioration, notably at the hands of the Jacobites in the 18th century, so that the building we see today was largely shaped between 1835 and 1850. Charles Barry was the architect and was not at his trial run, since the prodigy already had the Parliament of Westminster on his CV. He set about making it into a palace worthy of the name and it is now the largest castle in the Northern Highlands, with some 189 rooms. Its appearance is reminiscent of the work of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and the gardens of the estate are based on the French model and were inspired by Versailles. The interiors were badly damaged in a fire in 1915 and it was Robert Lorimier who took it upon himself to bring them back to life, which he did with undeniable good taste. A museum part exhibits safari trophies brought back by the family on their travels, but also archaeological relics from the Pictish period.

Its gardens, of all beauty, are to be discovered, all the more so as they offer the most beautiful view of the castle. From April to September, you can enjoy bird of prey shows in these same gardens. This is included in the entrance ticket. They take place at 11.30 am and 2.30 pm.

Completed in 1953, the Royal Yacht Britannia is the last of a long line of 83 royal ships dating back to Charles II in 1660, built at Clydebank, near Glasgow, and is 126 metres long with a capacity for 250 guests and 240 crew. In service from 1954 to 1997, it was a floating embassy for the Royal Family, which travelled some 2,014,278 km during 696 visits abroad and 272 to the United Kingdom. After 44 years of good and loyal service on the seas, he is demobilized and moored in the port of Leith. He is not ordered a replacement and the mastodon becomes one of Edinburgh's flagship attractions. On the programme: the highlights of the ship's history, the control room, the admiral's apartments, Her Majesty's bedroom and her Rolls Royce, which she took everywhere. One also immerses oneself in the underside of diplomacy and protocol, walking through the many lounges and reception rooms, but also the terraces where the Queen liked to relax.

The Royal Yacht Britannia was recently awarded a prize as one of Scotland's top tourist and cultural attractions, according to the National Tourist Board's website. No doubt this is due to the historical and cultural interest, but also to the possibility - oh so attractive for admirers of British royalty - of having tea in the "Royal Deck Tea Room" ... You can also spend a night in the luxury hotel located in the nearby ship, the Fringal.

Home of the Dukes of Argyll, this romantic neo-gothic castle is the fruit of the genius of William Adam and Roger Morris. Built between 1745 and 1790, it stands on 6.5 hectares of gardens in the centre of a 24,000 hectare estate. Its great beauty earned it the right to serve as the setting for an episode of the Downtown Abbey series. In addition to its finely furnished and ornamented rooms, it contains more than 1,300 weapons. You will admire the rich State Dining Room and the Tapestry Drawing Room. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and enjoy a snack in the elegant, traditional tearoom.

King George II started the construction of this gigantic fort to quell any future uprising. The buildings of its garrisons, its artillery and its weapons plunge into an extraordinary martial atmosphere, on this splendid citadel inspired by Vauban. Still occupied by the army to this day, the 1km long rampart surrounding the fortifications, the historic barracks, one of the only two dog military cemeteries in the country, and the Highlanders Museum, one of the oldest regiments in Scotland, are all worth a visit.

Its rectangular silhouette has dominated Loch Dunvegan since the 14th century and its beautiful walls were rebuilt between the 17th and 18th centuries. Seat of the MacLeod clan, it is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in the country. A visit is a must to appreciate its elegant interiors. The gardens surrounding the building are magnificent. Take advantage of your visit for a "seal trip" and embark on a seal watching cruise or a short observation cruise.

It is probably the most spectacular castle in the area. Depending on your desires and budget, you can take a simple tour of the gardens, as well as access the tea room for a snack in the old kitchens. The landscaped park and the view of the building are an enchantment in themselves. Of course, a visit to the castle - guided tour or self-guided tour with documentation - is recommended, as its interiors are superb and reveal fascinating stories.

Lovers of literature, history and fine stone will all find themselves here in the splendid gothic house that Sir Walter Scott fashioned in his own image. As Sheriff of Selkirkshire, he had to spend time near the Selkirk court when he was not living in Edinburgh. For a time he was content to rent a house from a cousin in Ashestiel. In 1811, he bought a small farm near Melrose. He renamed it Abbotsford and began converting the place to his liking. To begin with, the idea was not to build a gigantic palace, but simply to enlarge the existing building and acquire more land. In a few years, with the money from his success, he went from 44 hectares to 567 and planted many trees. From 1817 onwards, he called upon several architect, designer and artist friends to create more and more new pieces. George Bullock, James Skene, Edward Blore were among them, but it was the very famous William Atkinson who made the biggest contribution. Scott quickly revised his plans upwards and took advantage of a long visit to London, between 1819 and 1820, to discuss with him the destruction of the original farmhouse, in favor of the colossus that we see today. By 1824, the bulk of the work was completed and David Ramsay Hay, who later redecorated the Palace of Holyroodhouse for Queen Victoria, was responsible for the magnificent interiors. Three new walled gardens were also created. The author saw them as chapters in a novel and defined them as his antidote to long hours at his desk. After his death in 1832, Abbotsford was opened to the public. A modern visitor center traces the life and work of the genius writer, before you can walk in his footsteps to his writing room, library, drawing room, armory, reception room and chapel.

As French-speaking visitors, you will be delighted to find audio guides in French (at no extra charge): each room has its own terminals and its own set of explanations, always striking and astonishing... which will allow you to grasp all the magic of this "castle of enigmas", as Walter Scott had named and conceived it.

Not to be missed when visiting the Borders!

You can now stay in Abbotsford. The Hope Scott Wing has opened and offers 7 rooms for up to 15 people, and activities to live a few days in the manner of the great Scottish writer!

Historic residence of the Baron of Cawdor, this castle is particularly known to the general public thanks to the character of Cawdor's thane, present in Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth. The events in the story, however, predate the construction of the building, which dates back to the end of the 14th century. It passed into the hands of the Campbell clan in the 16th century and was subsequently renovated and enlarged. The tour reveals its rich interiors, filled with precious decorative elements and beautiful paintings. The surrounding gardens are also beautiful.

The Real Mary King's Close is a collection of alleys and underground dwellings that were in the heart of Old Town in the 17th century. They took the name of one of the daughters of the lawyer Alexander Close who owned several properties there. In the 18th century, they were partially demolished and buried during the construction of the City Chambers. It was from that moment, in the bowels of the city, that the maze entered into the darkest mysteries and legends of Edinburgh; and this, for 400 years. Archaeologists' research has made it possible to understand how some poor families have found refuge there in the face of the capital's overpopulation. It was also here that the plague patients were isolated so that they would die hidden from everyone. The evocation of the disease is then an opportunity to disentangle the true from the false and to fight many preconceived ideas. Ghost stories are legendary, such as that of a little girl named Annie who was seen by a medium and to whom many visitors still bring gifts today, or those of the many victims of the legendary murderers Burke and Hare, whom they reportedly hid before selling them to hospitals. Reopened to the public in 2003, The Real Mary King's Close lifts the veil on dark hours and cursed destinies, in a gloomy universe that does not leave anyone indifferent. The visit lasts one hour and makes sense thanks to actors in costumes for a successful immersion.