Medieval Castles – Medieval Villages
Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. Sitting atop Castle Hill, a crag that forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation, the first record of the castle dates from around 1110. Sterling soon became a royal burgh and an important administrative center.
The Romans had bypassed Stirling, choosing Doune to build a fort. The rock might have been a stronghold of the Manaw Gododdin. A settlement was recorded in the 7th and 8th centuries (however, there’s no archaeological evidence of occupation before the late medieval period).
The castle sits on a strategic defensive position, surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. The gatehouse was erected by King James IV around 1506. The oldest part of the Inner Close is the King’s Old Building, completed in 1497. The principal rooms were on the first floor, over cellars, and included two chambers with wide-open views to the west.
Most of the castle’s main buildings date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with a few structures of the fourteenth century.
Facilities
Hours
Summer (1 Apr – 30 Sep): 9.30am to 6pm.
Winter (1 Oct – 31 Mar): 9:30am to 5pm.
Address
Castle Esplanade, Stirling, FK8 1EJ
Phone
+44 (0)1786 450 000
Prices
Ticket type | Admission Price |
Adult (16-59yrs) | £15 |
Concession (60yrs+) | £12.00 |
Child (5-15yrs) | £9 |
Child (Under 5 | Free |
Young Scot Card Holder | £1 |
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