Juxtaposition of the Old and New Towns

Edinburgh is a celebrated city on a unique site, made up of a group of volcanic hills emerging from a coastal plain. The castle rock became a focal point for the Old Town, a linear settlement descending along a glacial ridge to Holyrood, with the geometric New Town stretching out across the plateau below. Glacial hollows form the Grassmarket, Princes Street gardens and the Waverley Valley. The juxtaposition of Old and New Edinburgh is echoed by the clear demarcation formed by the different landscapes.

The images in this exhibition show the ridges and valleys of the Old Town contrasted with the New Town on the plateau.

Discover other aspects of the Edinburgh World Heritage Site:

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage
The Topography of Hills and Valleys
Valley of the Water of Leith
Contrasting Character
Townscape
Historic Buildings
Historic Interiors
Statues and Monuments
Parks, Gardens and Graveyards
Historic City and Capital of Scotland
Communities
Intellectual Tradition, Education and Law
Edinburgh - Festival City