Stirling Castle
Queen Anne's Garden, Stirling Castle
The former King and Queen's Gardens, now currently a park.
The Royal Residences are on the left and the Great Hall is on the right.
Statues on the walls. Sadly, many have been eroded by rain and wind.
Looking over Stirling and surrounding areas.
Looking towards the William Wallace Monument. We have excellent intentions of someday going there and climbing the steps to the top.
The North Gate dates from the 1380s.
Inside the Chapel Royal which was the second chapel built in the castle and was where Prince Henry was christened in 1594. It was also a dining room and and used for various military reasons as well as a chapel.
The interior paintings were completed by Valentine Jenkin in 1633 and were rediscovered in the 1930s and further restoration was completed post WW2.
The Great Hall. Sadly they were setting up for a dinner so the furniture was moved around. It is known as the largest hall in Scotland.
Stirling Castle is one of my favorite castles that we have visited, thus far. It reminded me of a mashup between Edinburgh Castle and Urquhart Castle. Of course, Stirling Castle affords the viewer some incredible views. It's set high up on Castle Hill and has a definite commanding presence. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here and Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully attempted to take over the castle during the Wars for Scottish Independence in 1746.
Most of the castle dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, although King Alexander I dedicated a chapel here in 1110. It was built by the Stewart Kings James IV, James V, James VI although after the Stewart line ended, the castle became a military center. Restoration began on the castle fairly recently and various rooms, specifically the King and Queen's Chambers were restored to something close to their former glory.
Unlike many of the other castles we've seen, Stirling Castle has many exhibits and is very detail oriented. One video explains how the castle may have looked in its prime, while another video explains the significance behind many of the carved statues that adorn the walls. The attention to detail is definitely evident behind many of the exhibits and it is truly a lot of information to absorb.
I think we spent at least 3 hours wandering around the castle. There really was so much to see and soak in and the views were amazing! Definitely a must visit and conveniently located midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh! ;)