3 Facts You Didn’t Know About Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s most iconic and most ancient landmarks. It has been overlooking the city since the 12th century and attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year. Whether Edinburgh is on your future destination lists or a past favorite, there are surely a few things you don’t know about the famous fortress.

The Castle Sits Atop a Volcano

Edinburgh Castle was built on a hill known as Castle Rock, a volcanic plug that formed following an eruption 350 million years ago. No need to worry—it is no longer at any risk of erupting.

The Scottish Crown Jewels Were Lost In the Castle for Years

After the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, the regalia worn by Scottish monarchs at coronations, known as the Honours of Scotland, were locked in a chest in Edinburgh Castle and forgotten about for nearly a century. They were finally rediscovered by Sir Walter Scott in 1818 and have been on display in the castle since then. 

The Castle Was Altered By the KGB

In the 16th century, King James IV of Scotland had small holes built into the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle so that he could spy on his courtiers’ conversations. When Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev visited Scotland in 1984, the KGB insisted that the holes be bricked over before his arrival.