AAA Traveler - Fall 2016 - 26

and Canaletto, and the Grand Reception
Room, painstakingly restored after the 1992
fire that damaged or destroyed more than 100 of
Windsor's rooms.
Another highlight is Queen Mary's Dolls' House,
the largest doll house in the world, built between
1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary.
An astounding replica of an aristocratic home
in miniature, it holds thousands of small objects,
in servants' quarters below
stairs to the upstairs rooms
of the nobility, even a fullystocked wine cellar and library
filled with books.
On the castle grounds,
don't miss one of the
finest examples of Gothic
architecture in England,
St. George's Chapel, with
its awe-inspiring vaulted
ceiling and tombs of Henry
VIII, among other rulers
buried there.
There's much more to
Windsor. If you time your
visit between September and
March the Semi-State Rooms
- richly decorated private
apartments that include the
Crimson Drawing Room -
are open to the public.
And,
many
travelers
schedule their castle visit
for The Changing of the
Guard, a colorful ceremony
that is one of the most
photographed parts of the
Windsor experience.
You can watch the guards
as they march up High
Street to the castle but to see
the remaining 30-minute
ceremony at 11:30 a.m. you need to enter
the castle grounds. The ceremony takes
place on alternate days from August
to March and daily (except Sundays)
from April through July.

Edinburgh Castle

Towering over the Edinburgh city skyline is the
commanding presence of Edinburgh Castle, one of the
most popular tourist destinations in Scotland, with
nearly 1.5 million tourists annually.
The castle sits atop an extinct volcano at the opposite
end of the stretch of grand boulevard, known as the
Royal Mile, from Palace of Holyroodhouse, the presentday queen's official residence in Scotland.
As you delve into the castle's
history, you'll learn about the
significant events that took
place within its walls, including
Mary, Queen of Scots giving
birth to James VI in 1566.
The medieval Great Hall
is a focal point, with its huge
wooden roof, one of the most
impressive in Great Britain,
and its walls lined with swords,
Edinburgh Castle
shields and armor.
The simple but dramatic
Stone of Destiny on which kings
were enthroned for more than a
thousand years is on display in
the Crown Room.
The stone, a sacred object
to the Scots, has been used
in coronation ceremonies for
British monarchs since 1296.
The stone will only leave
the castle for coronations in
London's Westminster Abbey.
Also in the Crown Room
is one of the highlights of
any Great Britain visit - the
stunning gem-encrusted crown
jewels of Scotland.
The castle is also home to
the National War Museum,
which traces the history of the
Scottish military, including
the iconic kilted Highland soldier.
If you're at the castle at 1 p.m. (except Sundays)
you'll hear the blast of the One o'clock Gun, which
fires from the castle's Mills Mount Battery, a tradition
that dates back to 1861.

The castle sits atop an
extinct volcano and towers
over Edinburgh's city skyline.

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AAA Traveler - Fall 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Fall 2016