Edinburgh Castle is set atop a ridge that overlooks the city. People have used the site since the ninth century B.C., and a castle has been there since the 12th century. Though it is no longer a royal residence, a ceremonial military garrison is stationed there. The castle also houses the National War Museum of Scotland and Scottish National War Memorial. The castle attracts more than 1 million visitors per year.
The National Museum of Scotland offers exhibits on the history and culture of Scotland. Admission is free, and it opened in 1998, bringing together items from the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland and the Royal Museum. Among the works featured in the museum are sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy, paintings by Margaret McDonald and sculpture by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. Though there was much controversy over the building's design, it won the Sterling Award for excellence in architecture in 1999.
The Royal Botanic Garden sports 17,000 species of plants. Founded in 1670, it is the second-oldest botanic garden in the United Kingdom. It was moved to its present location in 1820. Some of the highlights of the garden are the Scottish Heath Garden, Rock Garden and Glasshouses. Locals refer to the garden as "The Botanics." There is no admission to enter the garden, but you have to pay to enter the Glasshouses.
The National Gallery of Scotland is located on the Mound, an artificial hill in the center of the city. The museum opened in 1859, and concentrates on art and work from Scottish and European artists. The gallery features art from Van Dyck, Giambattista Tiepolo and Edgar Degas. The museum's library has 50,000 volumes, mostly from 1300 to 1900. The National Gallery is adjacent to the Royal Scottish Academy Building.
Edinburgh is also a thoroughly modern city, offering cinemas, bars and clubs. It is popular for its annual Edinburgh Festival which is held throughout the month of August. This is a collection of festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Fringe is considered the world's largest arts festival and began in 1947. It includes theater performances, comedy and live music. In 2008, the Fringe sold more than 1.5 million tickets for more than 2,000 shows
