Captivating Tourist Attractions To Visit In Perth, Scotland
Feb 21st, 2009 by DavePF
The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland was, at one time, a royal burgh can be discovered at the head of the Tay estuary. Inbetween the twelfth and fifteenth centuries Perth fought with Dunfermline for the right to be the capital city of the nation. In the following article I introduce three visitor attractions in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle and Scone Palace:
Scone Palace
Today, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a popular attraction to tourists from around the planet. The palace is an important part of the history of Scotland, as the Scottish kings were once crowned there. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, as was Charles II when he took ownership of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere to the palace, which is justifiably so.At one time in the past the area was an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church on the site.
Elcho Castle
Lying around three miles from the city of Perth, with awe inspiring views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the best examples of Sixteenth century architecture in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the building of the castle in the 1570′s. The land had belonged to the family since 1468, when it was handed over to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Lord Elcho and Earl of Wemyss. Elcho Castle and it’s lands stayed the property of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, granted the castle to the nation. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.
Huntingtower Castle
Found just west of Perth is the medieval pile of Huntingtower Castle. Even though the structure is originaly medieval, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout most of it’s history. The Ruthven family were in possessison of the castle and lands from the C12th to the C17th. During this time the castle consisted of 2 separate towers, erected three meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the 1600′s, they decided to amalgamate the two towers, making the house appear more like a ordinary country manor house. The bridging work between the two towers is still rather noticeable today, both on the interior and exterior.
If you are planning to have a city break in Perth you will find plenty of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a huge range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/
