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Stirling Castle, locatedin Stirling, is one ofthe largest and mostimportant castles,both historically andarchitecturally, inScotland. The castlesits atop Castle Hill, anintrusive crag, whichforms part of theStirling Sill geologicalformation. It issurrounded on threesides by steep cliffs,giving it a strongdefensive position. Itsstrategic location,guarding what was,until the 1890s,the farthest downstream crossing of theRiver Forth, has made it an important fortification from theearliest times. Most of the principal buildings of the castledate from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A fewstructures of the fourteenth century remain, while theouter defences fronting the town date from the earlyeighteenth century. Several Scottish Kings and Queenshave been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen ofScots, in 1543. There have been at least eight sieges ofStirling Castle, including several during the Wars ofScottish Independence, with the last being in 1746, whenBonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take thecastle. Stirling Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument,and is now a tourist attraction managed by HistoricScotland.
http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/ |
