Edinburgh Castle from West Princes Street Gardens

Category

Library Item

Item no

7108

Title

Edinburgh Castle from west Princes Street Gardens

Description

Below the sprawling fortification of Edinburgh Castle lie Princes Street Gardens. Trees and grass are on the upper slopes closest to the castle while in the foreground there is a path that cuts through the lawns. At a junction in the path there are two stone plinths, one on either side of the path, each with an ornamental urn.

Artist / maker

Burns, Archibald

Date

1875

Size

11.7 x 18.7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle is perhaps the city's most famous landmark. It stands on top of the remaining core of an extinct volcano. Excavations suggest the site was inhabited by Bronze Age man as early as 900 BC, and was fortified by Iron Age man roughly 2000 years ago. The oldest part of the present day Castle is St Margaret's Chapel, built in the early 12th century. The Castle holds the Honours of Scotland and more recently has welcomed back the Stone of Scone otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny.

Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens were established on the site of the Nor' Loch which was drained during the 18th century. The park was originally for the exclusive use of the residents of Princes Street, but was opened to the public in 1876. The gardens contain various statues of notable figures, as well as the Ross Fountain and Bandstand and the famous Floral Clock.

Find out more about visiting Edinburgh Castle at Historic Environment Scotland.

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Related subjects

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Trails and paths

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