Page 63 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

THE RO Y AL MILE  61

The Signet Library has St Giles Cathedral contains the beautiful The City Chambers were
one of the city’s most Thistle Chapel, with a bagpiping angel designed by John Adam
lavish interiors. Visits can on its arched entrance. in the 1750s.
be made following a
written application. The Heart of Midlothian is
an arrangement of granite
cobblestones on the former
site of the city jail.

H I G H S T R E E T

B A N K S T R E E T
I G
V
B E O
R
I D R G
National Museum
E
G
of Scotland,
E
Greyfriars Bobby
Charles II statue is a tribute to
the 17th-century monarch who
defeated the Covenanters at the
Battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679.
Parliament House was built in 1639.
The Scottish Parliament convened here
from 1640 until its dissolution in 1707,
Rib-vaulting in the Thistle Chapel, St Giles Cathedral after the Union of Parliaments.

E Writers’ Museum in 1707. It is worth seeing for the Reformation, with its emphasis
Lady Stair’s Close. Tel (0131) 529 4901. spectacle of its many gowned on individual worship freed from
Open 10am–5pm Wed–Sun (from and wigged advocates as well the auth or ity of bishops. A tablet
noon Sun). = ∑ edinburgh as the stained-glass win dow in marks the place where Jenny
museums.org.uk the Great Hall, commem o rating Geddes, a local market stall-
This fine Old Town mansion was the inauguration of the Court of holder, scored a victory for the
built in 1622. In the 1720s it was Session by King James V in 1532. Coven ant ers in 1637 by hurling
acquired by Elizabeth, Dowager her stool at a preacher as he read
Countess of Stair, and has since R St Giles Cathedral from an English prayer book.
been called Lady Stair’s House. Royal Mile. Tel (0131) 225 9442. Open St Giles’s Gothic exterior has
Its official title reflects its role as May–Sep: 9am–7pm Mon–Fri, 9am– a 15th-century tower, the only
a museum of memorabilia from 5pm Sat, 1–5pm Sun. Oct–Apr: 9am– part to escape heavy renova tion
Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott 5pm Mon–Sat, 1–5pm Sun. 7 partial. in the 1800s. Inside, the Thistle
and Robert Louis Stevenson. 8 tower (prebook). - = Chapel, with its rib-
∑ stgilescathedral.org.uk
vaulted ceiling and
P Parliament House Properly known as the carved heraldic can o-
Parliament Sq, High St. Tel (0131) 225 High Kirk (church) of pies, honours the
2595. Open 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri. Edinburgh, St Giles is knights of the Most
7 limited. ∑ scotcourts.gov.uk popularly known as Ancient and Most
This majestic, Italianate build ing a cathedral. Though it Noble Order of the
was constructed in the 1630s was twice the seat of Thistle. The royal pew
for the Scottish Parlia ment. It a bishop in the 17th in the Preston Aisle
has been home to the Court of century, it was from is used by Queen
Session and the High Court since here that John Knox Bagpiping angel at the Elizabeth II when
the Union of Parliaments (see p49) directed the Scottish entrance of the cathedral staying in Edinburgh.

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