Makars' Court, Literary courtyard in Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland
Description
Makars' Court is a courtyard in Edinburgh's Old Town with stone paving engraved with quotations from Scottish writers. The space sits near Lady Stair's Close and is adjacent to the Writers' Museum.
History
The courtyard was established in 1999 by Edinburgh City Council alongside the Saltire Society and Lothian Edinburgh Enterprise. It developed from the western section of the former Wardrop's Court.
Culture
The name Makar comes from Scots and means poet or skilled writer. The engraved texts show Edinburgh's deep connection to literature spanning centuries.
Practical
The courtyard is freely accessible throughout the day with no entrance fee required. The adjacent writers' museum typically closes for new visitors in the early afternoon.
Did you know?
New stone slabs continue to be added, expanding the collection of inscriptions from different language traditions. The texts span more than 600 years of Scottish literary history.
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