Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most historically significant castles in Scotland, sitting atop a steep crag near the River Forth in the city of Stirling. The site has been fortified since at least the early twelfth century, but most of its principal buildings date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with major construction between 1490 and 1600 that gave the castle an eclectic mix of English, French, and German influences, most notably in the Royal Palace, considered the first Renaissance palace built in the British Isles. The castle served as a residence where several Scottish monarchs were crowned, including Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543, and endured at least eight sieges during the Wars of Scottish Independence before later service as a military barracks. It is now managed by Historic Environment Scotland as one of the country's major visitor attractions.