This castle is located right by the sea in the historic old town of Saint Andrews in Fife
on the east coast of Scotland.
Founded as early as 1200 by Bishop Roger for use as his episcopal palace,
it was dismantled and rebuilt many times during the Wars of Independence.
It also served as a fortress and state prison.
It is thought that James III may have been born here in 1451 and his father,
James II, stayed here often.
The oldest part of the ruins date back to the 13th century
but much of what can be seen today was built in the mid-16th century by Archbishop Hamilton.
In 1645, the town was starting to dwindle and parts of the castle masonry
were used to repair the harbour walls.
In 1911 it was finally placed in State care and arrangements were later
made to protect it from the encroaching sea.
Of particular interest to visitors is the mine and counter-mine tunnelled
through the rock during the 1546 siege, also the bottle dungeon in the Sea Tower.
A team of Virtual Reality experts at Abertay University have recreated the
castle as it was in the 15th Century, complete with fly arounds of the
ramparts, the interior of the Fore Tower and a visit to the Great Hall in
the evening lit by torches and the open fireplace.
Now owned by Historic Environment Scotland, the castle is open daily all year. Tel 01334 477196
Includes visitor centre with exhibition, gift shop, cafe, toilets.
You can buy a joint ticket so you can also visit the Cathedral.
