Cities are constantly evolving.

As the city changes, older buildings are taken down or repurposed and new ones are erected. Street levels rise as new buildings are built over top. They get bigger, or smaller, and sometimes even have their physical geography altered.

So can you trace the history of a city through its buildings? Yes, you can!

Despite the changes the city undergoes, it’s often possible to find traces of earlier eras – if you know where to look.

Keep reading to discover the history of Edinburgh – in 4 buildings!

Medieval Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle

There’s evidence that Edinburgh has been inhabited continuously since the Bronze Age some 5000 years ago. But it was during the reign of King Malcolm III (r. 1057 – 1093), who made Edinburgh his seat of power, that the city’s importance really took off.

It was during Malcolm’s reign that we first have mention of Edinburgh Castle. Perched atop Castle Rock, this mighty castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and has become a symbol of the city.

For centuries, Edinburgh Castle was the residence of kings and queens. Important episodes of Scottish history took place here, such as the infamous Black Dinner, and the birth of James VI. Even today, the crown jewels of Scotland are kept at the castle.

Due to its strategic location, Edinburgh Castle was besieged several times over the centuries. It saw action during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 13^th and 14^th centuries, the War of the Three Kingdoms in the 17^th century, and the Jacobite Rebellion in the 18^th century.

Built as a defensive structure, the castle has never lost its military function. Even to the present day, the castle serves as the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys). Annually, it hosts the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which has been held since 1950.

Want to know everything about visiting Edinburgh Castle? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Visiting Edinburgh Castle!

Reformation Edinburgh: St. Giles’ Cathedral

In the 16^th century, the Protestant Reformation swept across Europe. Edinburgh was no exception. Religious reform was a hot topic in the Scottish capital.

It was at St. Giles’ Cathedral that renowned preacher John Knox gave his fiery sermons. In the midst of tensions between Catholics and Protestants, St. Giles’ became a bastion of Protestantism – even to this day, it is considered the mother church or Presbyterianism.

Less than a hundred years later, a riot broke out at St. Giles’ after Charles I tried to impose The Book of Common Prayer on the Presbyterian Scots. The event sparked the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, in which Charles, quite literally, lost his head.

As one of the most important churches in Scotland, St. Giles has held services to mark important events. Some of these included a memorial Mass for the dead after the Battle of Flodden in 1513, the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, and return of the Stone of Scone, the Scottish coronation stone, to Scotland in 1996.

18^th and 19^th Centuries: New Town

The 18^th and 19^th centuries saw a period of growth in Edinburgh – physically, economically, and intellectually.

By the 18^th century, the town of Edinburgh was cramped, dank, and over-crowded. When the union with England eliminated the threat of invasion, the city was no longer confined to the old city walls.

A new building project was proposed, which became known as the New Town. Built between 1767 and about 1850, the New Town became known for its neoclassical and Georgian architecture and incorporation of public green spaces. It influenced other urban planning projects in Europe, helping it to earn the distinction of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the late 20^th century.

At the same time, Edinburgh became a leading center of the Enlightenment in Britain. Scientists Joseph Black, William Cullen, and James Hutton, poet Robert Burns, philosophers David Hume, Adam Smith, and Dugald Stewart, artists Allan Ramsay and Henry Raeburn, and writer Sir Walter Scott were all active during this period.

Modern Scotland: Scottish Parliament Building

Edinburgh retained its prominence into the 20^th and 21^st centuries. It was largely untouched during both of the 20^th century’s world wards, sparing its historic buildings and helping to maintain its character.

Building projects continued into the 21^st century, the most celebrated being the Scottish Parliament Building.

Scotland had had its own parliament for centuries, although it didn’t have a dedicated parliament building. (For a time, parliament met at St. Giles’ Cathedral.) When Scotland and England were formally united in 1707, at which time the Parliament of Scotland was dissolved and Scottish politicians obliged to take up their seats in London.

With calls for Scottish independence growing in the late 20^th century, Scotland once again had her own parliament. It opened in 1999, 292 years after it was dissolved.

But parliament had to meet somewhere, so a new building was constructed and opened in 2004 (three years late and about 10 times over budget). Located next to Holyrood Park and at the end of the Royal Mile, the striking building was designed to blend with the natural surroundings; certain elements were inspired by Scottish culture.

Despite the controversy surrounding it, the Scottish Parliament building has been hailed as one of the most innovative buildings in Britain, a testament to Edinburgh’s continued willingness to embrace new ideas and add to its already rich and fascinating history.