Holyroodhouse Castle
Holyroodhouse Castle is a beautiful baroque palace in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh, which has the status of the official residence of the British kings in the region. The name of the castle comes from the expression “Haly Ruid”, meaning “Holy Cross.”
General information
The royal residence was built in the 15th century in a medieval abbey of Augustinian monks, of which only well-restored ruins remain. Holyrood Palace has undergone several major reconstructions. In the 16th century it was home to Queen Mary Stuart of Scotland, and in the 19th century to the French monarch Charles X. The ancient palace received the status of an official residence in 1920.
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Nowadays, during her visits to Edinburgh, the British Queen always stays at the castle of Holyroodhouse. Lavish receptions, various ceremonies, and the appointment of the head of government and political leader of the country, the First Minister of Scotland, are held here. When none of the members of the monarchy are in the palace, tourists are allowed into the building.
There are beautiful gardens around Holyrood Castle and the ruins of the old Augustinian Abbey are nearby. The grounds of the palace are only partially open to visitors. It can be accessed daily: from April to October from 9.30am to 6pm, and from November to March from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
.Tickets for adults, including an audio guide in Russian, cost £12.5, £11.4 for students and those over 60, and £7.5 for children under 17. Children under 5 can visit the palace for free. Please note that photography, videos and bringing food and drink into Holyroodhouse is prohibited inside the building.
.History of Holyroodhouse Castle
In 1128, King David I of Scotland founded an abbey where Augustinian monks began to live. According to legend, David was attacked by a deer while hunting in the forest. The king could have been killed by the sharp horns, but suddenly a light cloud appeared in the sky, on which a large cross was shining. The deer was frightened by it and ran away. The king considered what he saw an omen and built the Abbey of the Holy Cross.
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In the XV century, the monastery hotel began to be used for the reception of royalty and wedding celebrations. The place became very popular, so at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, when King James IV of Scotland ruled, the inn was replaced by a new palace built in the best Renaissance tradition.
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As Edinburgh grew to become the main Scottish city, Holyroodhouse Castle became the residence of British monarchs. When the Civil War took place, Oliver Cromwell’s troops were quartered in the palace quarters, and they caused considerable damage to the building and even caused a fire..
Major alterations to Holyrood Castle took place in the 70s of the XVII century, under King Charles II, who decided to build a comfortable palace for his brother James – Duke of York. Trying to take into account all the wishes of the king, the architect William Bruce erected a palace building in the form of a quadrangle and built in it luxurious apartments for the king. True, the monarch himself never came to Edinburgh.
In the early 18th century Scotland and England came to unification, so the castle of Holyroodhouse lost its former importance and gradually fell into disrepair. The restoration of the palace and the preservation of the ancient rooms and halls was undertaken only in the early XIX century by order of King George IV.
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Tour of the palace
We advise you to take at least one and a half hours to see the palace complex. Given the importance of the royal residence, there is a one-way route around Holyrood Palace. It starts from the baroque Parade Staircase, built in the XVII century. The ceiling above the steps is decorated with elegant moldings in the form of angels holding the main regalia of Scotland, and on the walls are paintings by Italian masters of the XVI century.
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Then tourists enter the Royal Dining Room. It is followed by the magnificent Throne Room, where the coronation ceremony of George IV was held. Of particular interest to visitors are the richly decorated apartments of Mary Stuart. These rooms contain many old tapestries, furniture, rare paintings and antiques.
The Order of the Thistle part of Holyroodhouse Castle exhibits examples of awards given to people of Scotland who held public office and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the country. This part of the palace displays the mantle traditionally worn at the knighting ceremony of the Order of the Thistle.
.Holyroodhouse Castle houses an art gallery where portraits of all Scottish kings can be seen. It also displays rare beauty jewelry and arts and crafts from the rich royal collections.
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How to get there
Holyroodhouse Castle stands in the center of Edinburgh, at the end of the Royal Mile, opposite Arthur’s Seat hill. It can be reached by bus numbers 6 and 35. Edinburgh’s Waverley Station is a 15-minute walk from the palace.
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