St Margaret's, Romanesque chapel in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
St Margaret's Chapel is a small Romanesque structure located at the highest point of Edinburgh Castle, built entirely of stone with a rounded doorway. Five stained glass windows depicting Scottish saints fill the interior with colored light, and the chapel occupies one of the castle's most prominent positions.
Founded in 1130 by King David I to honor his mother Queen Margaret, this chapel ranks among Edinburgh's oldest structures still actively used. It endured major sieges over the centuries while remaining largely unchanged, as other castle buildings were destroyed or rebuilt around it.
The chapel continues to host weddings, baptisms, and services, serving as a working place of worship within the castle grounds. Visitors can see how this ancient building remains active and meaningful in people's lives today.
To visit the chapel, you need admission to the castle, and you'll find it near the summit of the castle's hilltop location. Access involves climbing stairs, so allow time for the ascent and wear comfortable walking shoes for the terrain.
The chapel survived the siege by Robert the Bruce in 1314 and the lengthy siege from 1571 to 1573, when nearly all other castle structures were destroyed or heavily damaged. This resilience makes it a rare survivor from an era of intense conflict.
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