Stirling Castle, Medieval castle in Stirling, Scotland
Stirling Castle is a fortress on a volcanic outcrop in Stirling, Scotland, surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides. The complex includes several buildings from different centuries, among them a Renaissance palace and a courtyard overlooking the surrounding lowlands.
The castle was the site of several sieges during the Wars of Independence in the late 13th century. James IV and James V later transformed the fortress into a royal residence with Renaissance grandeur.
The Great Hall served as a reception space where kings entertained guests and demonstrated their authority. Visitors today can see recreated tapestries in the royal apartments that depict court life during the 16th century.
The approach to the main entrance follows cobbled paths that can be steep in places. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow time to explore the different areas of the complex.
An old cemetery for dogs sits within the castle grounds, where royal pets have been buried since the 19th century. The gravestones still bear names and affectionate inscriptions from their owners.
Location: Stirling
Website: https://stirlingcastle.scot
GPS coordinates: 56.12389,-3.94778
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00
This collection brings together fortified military structures that show how defensive architecture has evolved across different eras and continents. Malbork Castle in Poland spans 140,000 square meters of brick constructions erected by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, while the Alhambra in Granada combines palaces and city walls in a complex where medieval Islamic architecture meets military needs. The Krak des Chevaliers in Syria reflects the defensive ingenuity of the Crusaders, and Suomenlinna, a naval fortress spread over six islands near Helsinki, illustrates how the Swedes and later the Finns fortified their Baltic coastlines in the 18th century. The sites include mountain strongholds like Masada, where Herod built a refuge on an isolated plateau of the Judean Desert, and Chittorgarh Fort in India, covering 7 square kilometers (about 2.7 square miles) and housing a protected city. In Europe, Edinburgh Castle has occupied its volcanic rock since the Middle Ages, while Bourtange in the Netherlands features the geometric bastion layout typical of 16th-century fortifications. Each fortress retains the elements that ensured its defense: walls, moats, watchtowers, and cisterns. These structures tell stories of sieges, conquests, and conflicts that shaped their regions and remain today prominent witnesses to world military history.
Castles and palaces from different periods and regions reveal how architecture adapted to military needs, royal ambitions, or religious purposes. Some were built as fortresses, others served as residences or symbols of power. Construction styles range from medieval defenses to grand estates of later centuries. Each structure carries the mark of its time and its builders. This collection includes places such as Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, and the Alhambra in Granada. It also features Himeji Castle in Japan, the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and Prague Castle. Some sites stand on cliffs or in mountains, others lie in river valleys or near towns. Visiting them shows how defense, living space, and display came together in one building.
Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling
399 m
Argyll's Lodging
352 m
Statue of Robert the Bruce
131 m
Mar's Wark
379 m
Stirling Tolbooth
469 m
Cowane's Hospital
413 m
St Mary's Church
336 m
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum
59 m
King's Knot
424 m
Stirling, 14, 16 Broad Street, Norrie's House
460 m
Stirling, 31 St John Street, Old Town Jail
491 m
Stirling, St Mary's Wynd, Cowane's House
374 m
Chapel Royal, Stirling Castle
47 m
The Beheading Stone, Gowanhill, Stirling
528 m
South African War Memorial, Esplanade, Stirling Castle
132 m
Stirling Castle, Great Hall
13 m
Red Lion Inn, 91 St Mary's Wynd, Stirling
379 m
Stirling Castle, The King's Old Buildings
55 m
Stirling, 29 St John Street, Erskine Marykirk Church, Erskine Monument
517 m
Stirling Castle, Palace
27 m
Stirling, St John Street, Church Of The Holy Rude, Burial-ground
324 m
Stirling Castle
11 m
Scout Hall, 36 St John Street, Stirling
451 m
Stirling Castle, Outer Defences
77 m
Wilson Monument
315 m
Star Pyramid
244 m
Stirling, King's Knot
430 m
Stirling Castle, Forework
45 mReviews
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