Listening activity: Edinburgh Castle
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Here kings and queens have resided. Here important battles have been fought, and in the castle area we also find a memorial over the 20th century wars that Scottish soldiers have been involved in.
When you come as a visitor to Edinburgh Castle, you will get the chance to take a guided tour of the castle area. The guides at the castle always wear tartan kilts or trousers, and they have a lot of knowledge and good stories to share with their audience. In this interview we meet Laura, who is a guide at the castle. The interview was recorded on a beautiful February morning, but as you will hear in the background it is always quite windy in Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle, 5:54
Tasks and Activities
Comprehension
Listen to the interview and answer the following questions.
- What kind of rock does the castle stand on?
- When was the first settlement on the rock?
- What is the smallest building in the castle called?
- Which is the most recent building in the castle area?
- The Stone of Scone is extremely important for Scotland. Why?
- When was it returned to Scotland? What are two other names for this stone?
- Which part of the castle is Laura’s favourite? Why?
- How many visitors come to the castle every year? Who owns Edinburgh Castle?
- Why was the one o’clock gun originally fired?
- Which day is the gun not fired?
Research
Visit the official Edinburgh Castle website and find out what these pictures show.
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More Castles
There are many famous castles in Scotland. One is Stirling Castle, another is Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Have a look at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Holyrood Palace and find out about:
- opening hours
- entrance fees
- number of visitors per year
Put your findings into a table.