Throughout its history, the fortress was a kind of "key to Scotland." Originally built in the early Middle Ages, the castle was thoroughly rebuilt at the beginning of the XVII century and adapted for defense using fortress artillery. The castle gives the impression of an absolutely impregnable fortress. Three sides of the fortress are protected by steep cliffs, and access to the castle was limited by a steep road on the fourth (eastern) side. You can only get to the road through the esplanade - a long and empty sloping section, completely shot through from the fortress, where the Royal Edinburgh Military Orchestra Parade takes place annually.
Earlier, on the north side of the castle was located a fairly large lake Nor-Loch, which protected the approaches to the castle and the Old Town from this side. At the end of the 18th century, under the kings of the Hanover dynasty, the lake was gradually drained due to the construction of a new city in Edinburgh.
The castle is the oldest building in Edinburgh (and almost all of Scotland) - the chapel of St. Margaret, named after Margaret of Scotland, but actually built at the beginning of the XII century by her son, King David. Edinburgh Castle also houses Skunk Stone and the crown of Scotland.
