July 2, 2009
Perth Vacations And Three Magnificent Places You Must See
The 'Fair City' of Perth in Scotland a former royal burgh stands at the head of the Tay estuary. Inbetween the 12th and 15th centuries the city competed with Dunfermline for the title of being the capital of the country. In the article below I discuss three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Elcho Castle, Scone Palace and Huntingtower Castle:
Scone Palace
These days, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a popular attraction to visitors from across the world. The palace is an important part of Scotland's history, 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 possession of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious feel to the palace, which is justifiably so.Once upon a time the site acted as an important meeting place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church on the site.
Elcho Castle
Lying about three miles from Perth, with awe inspiring views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the finest examples of 16th century architecture in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the erection of the castle in the 1570's. The land had belonged to the family since 1468, when it was consigned to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it's lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. It was then, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, gave the castle to Scotland. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the care of Historic Scotland.
Huntingtower Castle
Situated just west of Perth is Huntingtower Castle, a medieval pile. Even though the castle is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it's history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the castle and lands from the 12th to 17th century. During this time the castle consisted of two separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took possession, later on in the 1600's, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house appear more like a ordinary country manor house. The bridging work between the two towers is still clearly noticeable today, both outside and in.
If you are planning to have a vacation in Perth you will find plenty of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a broad range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/
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