Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally. It is located at the top of Castle Hill in the town of Stirling.
General Information
The castle is surrounded by steep cliffs, creating a strong defensive position. Most of the main buildings were erected in the 15th and 16th centuries. Stirling Castle has been besieged many times, including several times during the Scottish War of Independence. The last time the castle was besieged was in 1746, when Prince Charlie tried unsuccessfully to take it.
.
The Castle was the court of James IV (ruled 1488 to 1513), James V (ruled 1513 to 1542), Mary of Scotland (ruled 1542 to 1567) and James VI (ruled 1567 to 1625).
.The state rooms are mostly empty, although one of them holds the “Sterling Heads” – 56 beautifully carved oak medallions. James V commissioned them when he decided to turn the gloomy fortress into a comfortable dwelling.
The Chapel Royal is decorated with 17th-century frescoes by Valentine Jenkins, and the sumptuous Great Hall is fully in keeping with the ambitions of its creator, James IV..At the top of the castle are the old royal chambers, which now house the Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Scottish Regiments. Dress uniforms, war trophies from around the land and documents from the Crimean War are on display here.
3 km north of the town stands a monument to Wallace F., executed by the English in 1305. The view from here is marvelous.
