Necropolises and Catacombs to visit Edinburgh

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.