Castle Rock
Quick Summary
Castle Rock, a volcanic crag overlooking Edinburgh, Scotland, has been a site of human activity for at least 3,000 years. The Romans recognized its strategic importance, and by around 500 CE, a Celtic tribe known as the Votadini (or Gododdin) established a hill fort there, naming it Din Eidyn. This site later became known as Edwinesburh and eventually evolved into Edinburgh.123
Edinburgh Castle, built on Castle Rock, has served as a royal residence and is now a museum. It has a long history of sieges and reconstructions, with the oldest surviving building being St. Margaret's Chapel, dating from the 12th century. The castle is a major tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage site.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
EdinburghCity site…core is the Old Town’s Castle Rock, a plug of black basalt sealing the vent of an extinct volcano. It stands 250 feet (76 metres) above the valley floor and is crowned by the famous Edinburgh Castle, which, subtly floodlit every night, stirs even the habituated townsfolk. Glacial ice once…
Read More…core is the Old Town’s Castle Rock, a plug of black basalt sealing the vent of an extinct volcano. It stands 250 feet (76 metres) above the valley floor and is crowned by the famous Edinburgh Castle, which, subtly floodlit every night, stirs even the habituated townsfolk. Glacial ice once…
Read More- EdinburghSettlement of the region
…what was long suspected—that the Castle Rock has been occupied since about 1000 bc. Holyrood Park, Blackford Hill, and Craiglockhart Hill all show signs of occupation in the late 1st millennium bc.
Read More…what was long suspected—that the Castle Rock has been occupied since about 1000 bc. Holyrood Park, Blackford Hill, and Craiglockhart Hill all show signs of occupation in the late 1st millennium bc.
Read More