Scotland: Linlithgow Palace

Our first stop in Scotland was Linlithgow. We spent the morning wandering through Linlithgow Palace and the surrounding grounds. 

Linlithgow Palace is best known as the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. The castle was built in 1301, though there was already a royal residence at this location as early as the twelfth century.

In 1746 the palace burned. We don't know if the fire was intentional or accidental. The English army had camped at Linlithgow palace, and the fire ignited upon their departure. It was never restored.

Inside the palace, we saw school-age children on a guided tour. My favorite part was the fact that their guides were about their same age (maybe 10 or 11) and were dressed in historical costume (not pictured).

Though the castle itself is just a shell, the adjacent St. Michael's Kirk is still being used today. the church has a very distinctive steeple. It is made of aluminum and was added in 1964 to replace its damaged stone steeple:

Statue of Mary Queen of Scots:

In 1650 an English army invaded Scotland, and Linlithgow palace became their supply base. Some soldiers used the walls of the chapel for shooting practice. We could still see the bullet-holes in the stone:

After exploring the castle, we walked through the town of Linlithgow. It is such a cute town. We loved many of the shops and the architecture. I definitely recommend a visit!