Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in Stirling Castle in 1543 and her son, James VI was christened in t

As I walked through the castle gates I had a strange sensation. It was almost as if I could feel the history surrounding the place. cheap hotels london Without a doubt this is one of the grandest castles in Scotland, and although cheap hotels london it s difficult to imagine the bloody events that took place here, you do tend to get that sort of uncanny, weird feeling .
The castle stands on an old volcanic outcrop cheap hotels london guarding the main route north into the Scottish Highlands. Although cheap hotels london there is no confirmation as to when the castle was first built, references to it appear in historical records as far back as the early 12th Century.
During a long and bloody history it has been attacked or besieged at least 16 times, and the castle s most famous (or infamous) period was during the late 13th and early 14th centuries, when it played a prominent part in the conflict between England and Scotland.
It was seized by Edward I in 1296, but in the following year the Scottish forces of William Wallace gathered at Stirling Bridge and overthrew the English in the most famous defeat ever suffered by an English army. Control of the Castle was perceived to be particularly important, because the belief was that whoever controlled it controlled Scotland.
The bloody history continued with the great seige of 1304 and the castle surrendered to the English after four months of constant bombardment. But perhaps the most famous battle was the Battle of Bannockburn, on the 24th June 1314, two miles south of Stirling.
However, after the defeat at Halidon Hill, Stirling cheap hotels london was once again under English control and English soldiers patrolled its walls. In 1337 the strengthened castle was besieged by a Scottish army led by Sir Andrew cheap hotels london Moray, but was later recaptured by King Edward III.
Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in Stirling Castle cheap hotels london in 1543 and her son, James VI was christened in the nearby parish church. cheap hotels london On her return from France in 1561, Queen Mary, asleep in her bed at Stirling, was almost overcome by smoke when a candle set fire to the curtains in her room.
Almost all of Scotlands castles have stories of ghosts , and perhaps the best known ghost of Stirling Castle is that of the Green Lady, a phantom said to appear at the most unexpected times and places in the castle.
The city of Stirling is one of the most important landmarks in Scotland s history and has borne witness to many important events cheap hotels london of the past, which significantly shaped the country s future. Today Stirling is trouble free and a delightful place to visit.
Stirling Castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the country, due to it s rich history. Close to Stirling is the Wallace Monument, cheap hotels london a magnificent memorial to one of Scotland s heroes. Other visitor attractions include the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, and the Old Town Jail. To get the most out of your visit to Stirling, visit the Castle.
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