Looking forward for one more opportunity to travel and discover the world? Can’t decide where to go? Edinburgh is one of the most appealing options that you may like to consider.
Myths and creativity are two peculiar features of this vibrant city. Edinburgh is a sort of magnet that attracts people from all over the world. People willing to start discovering Scotland.
The city ranks second (after London) most popular place to go to among those who plan a trip across Great Britain. It has been called “Northern Athens” for several decades. The name was given to Edinburgh for a reason. Want to know why? Well, it’s all due to the fact that the collections kept at the local museums include many valuable objects from the point of view of culture.
Edinburgh is a real paradise for those who love castles. Each of them has its own legend, interesting story or a myth about ghosts.
There is a couple of other things to point out. The city has structures built during different centuries characterized by different styles dominating in architecture. Therefore, the architectural divergence is clearly evident. The list of the most important places of interest includes Castle Rock (a place where the similarly named castle built in the 17th century is located) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (serving as the official royal residence). Tremendously amazing monuments of architecture together with the unique hilly landscape make Edinburgh a truly charming and authentic city.
The fast-paced development of the city began in the 12th century when it was chosen as the city of royal residence. In the 13th century (right after the foundation of the Parliament) the city was proclaimed to be the capital of Scotland.
Four centuries later the Parliament was abolished leading to the decrease of the city’s political significance. However, the consequences had no impact on the cultural life of the city that went on thriving. It reached its peak at the Age of Renaissance when lots of scientists and philosophes came and lived in the city of Edinburgh.
Even though nowadays Edinburgh is considered to be the most developed region of the country in terms of economy, it wasn’t always like that. The changes in the economical situation happened in 1999. That was the year of the Parliament re-establishment. New buildings and governmental institutions started to appear which in turn resulted in the decrease of the unemployment rate.
The facts you may not know about Edinburgh
1. The worldwide famous castle
The Edinburgh Castle has recently been said to be the UK top Heritage Attraction. Every year 1.25 million of people who travel to Scotland visit the castle. The complex of this stunning fortress was built step by step. St. Margaret’s Chapel (The oldest part of the castle complex) was built back in the 12th century whereas the Great Wall was erected only in 1510. A century later, the Half Moon Battery was built. As for the Scottish National War Memorial, it appeared only after the First World War.
Those interested in visiting the castle can buy a guided tour or choose an audio guide.
2. Old Town and New Town
The park area called Princess Street Gardens divides the historical center in 2 districts – the Old Town and the New Town. Both were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, an interesting fact about Edinburgh! There are organized excursions you can buy and go on in order to explore the districts and learn more about them.
The Old Town is exceptionally interesting since it has many places to visit and to see. One of them is the Royal Mile. It’s an unofficial name given to the most important street in the town linking the Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. While walking along the street you will see high old buildings, churches as well as structures built in different architectural style.
Other places of interest that definitely should be on your “must-visit” list are the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament Building,
3. Fresh air
Since there are no plants and other types of industrial establishments in the city, the area here is fresh. In total, there are 112 parks. According to statistics, the city has more trees than any other city of Great Britain. Actually, such like cities are rare nowadays.
4. Festivals
The annual festival (that is considered to be the biggest festival in the world) takes place in August. This is the time when the population of the city doubles due to the flow of tourists.
What makes the event so popular among tourists? Well, its idea is quite simple. In the context of the event 3 or more theme festivals takes place in one and the same time. The list of the possible festivals includes the festival o0f arts, the festival of scenic art, music festival (blues and jazz), festival of cinema and book festival, a fascinating fact about Edinburgh!
5. Unemployment
The unemployment rate in this city is significantly lower than in any other big city of Great Britain. It is also necessary to point out that approximately 95% of the total population are Europeans. In London, for example, only 50% of the total population are Europeans.
6. Long history
The city was mentioned for the first time in the chronicle of the 12th century. However, it is proved that first groups of people settled here in the 7th century. In other words, Edinburgh is one of the oldest European cities.
There is a lot waiting for you in this city. Be the next one to discover what it has to offer. You definitely won’t regret the time and money spent on the trip to this nice center of Scotland.
I hope that this article on facts about Edinburgh was helpful. If you are interested, visit the City Facts Page!
