If you have ever experienced the soul-stirring call of the bagpipe, you may want to consider visiting Edinburgh Castle in Scotland during the month of August.

For three weeks this month, the spectacular Scottish pageant called the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will sweep you off your feet and leave in you a longing to return again and again. Imagine viewing the lighted Esplanade at night, the massive gates sweeping open, and the electrifying sound of hundreds of pipes and drums filling the night air as the band marches out to announce the opening of the Scottish festival.

This is followed by a dazzling array of music, dances and cultural performances, which now include a number of international guest performers.

The finale consists of all 1000 performers gathered together at the Esplanade for the lowering of the flag, then as the spotlight is directed at the ramparts, a lone piper plays his haunting lament. The audience of about 9,000 including about a third from different countries in the world, sing Auld Lang Syne, and discover that they have bonded to each other out of a shared love of Scottish music and traditions.

The magnificent Edinburgh Castle is worth a visit at any time of the year. The weather is mild (averaging between 6ºC in winter to 28ºC in winter), and there is less rain and wind than on the west side of the country.

The castle sits on an extinct volcano 80 meters high, and provides a panoramic view of the uniquely interesting city and the scenic surroundings beyond. Just east of the castle is Old Town, famous for the Royal Mile on which the royal family traveled to and from the castle to Holyrood Palace. On the north side is New Town, starting with Princes Street on which the shops are only on one side facing the castle, and which contains shops and homes displaying beautiful Georgian architecture. Old Town, New Town, and the Castle comprise the UNICEF heritage site.

To enter and tour the Castle is to experience its dramatic history through several centuries of besiegement, capture, and recovery. There is archaeological evidence that the castle rock was inhabited by humans during the Bronze Age in 900 BC. Archaeological finds also show that the Romans were present there during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

During early 7th century, the Celtic Votadini occupied castle rock and called it Din Eidyn. They were defeated by the Angles in 638 AD, and the name Edinburgh was established then. King Malcolm III was the first Scotch ruler that took up residence here, and built a castle in the latter part of the 11th century. His wife, Queen Margaret was known for her active work with the churches and her care for the poor and orphans. She was canonized in 1259. It is believed that her son, David I, built St. Margaret’s Chapel in her honor in the early 12th century. This is the only building that survived the successive sieges and destruction that occurred during and after the middle ages.

Different parts of the castle were built, then destroyed, then rebuilt for the next five centuries. The last siege occurred in 1689, when the overpowering troops of William of Orange caused the Duke of Gordon, Governor of the Castle, to surrender the fortress after his unsuccessful attempts to defend the castle for James VII.

After that, several repairs and reconstructions were undertaken, and new structures were added. Some of the attractions awaiting the visitor today are: the Great Hall, with its collection of weapons and armor; the Royal Apartments which include the Crown Room containing the Scottish Crown jewels of crown, sword, and scepter, and the small room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI who later became James I of England; and the Scottish National War Memorial.

The One O’Clock Gun is fired every day at precisely 1:00 p.m., and is a daily reminder that the Edinburgh Castle yet remains a military garrison albeit for administrative and ceremonial purposes.

At the entrance gate are the statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, both heroes who fought for Scottish independence. A favorite story about Robert is of a critical moment after defeat, resting in a cave and observing a spider making numerous attempts at climbing its silken thread to reach its web and falling again and again, until it finally succeeded. “If at first you don’t succeed- try, try again!” Robert returned to the battle and succeeded against huge odds, and finally regained Scottish independence from England. This story epitomizes the Scotch people’s long and brave struggle for independence.

Go to Edinburgh this month, there are 3 more weeks of fun until the festival ends … and Edinburgh Castle is the main place to be at!

Images by http2007, ipoh, Jordan, Randy, Glen(1 +2), timow2s (1+2+3), theedinburghblog, laurelfan, macieklew, AJanssen

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