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ZOOM ON : MUSEUMS
Scotland is the dreamed place for art lovers and especially its capital city: Edinburgh. Indeed, ranging from Scottish history, Technology, Science to Modern art and Design, Edinburgh will left no one hungry. Also, its castle is a true architectural piece of art and has so many stories to let you know about. With at least thirty-two museums, and hundreds places to visit, you will definitely enjoy your free time!
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
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The National Museum of Scotland is basically the merge of the National Museum of Antiquities and the Royal Scottish Museum in 1985. Both Museum are currently adjacent in central Edinburgh in the Old Town and form only one. The first opening of the Royal Scottish Museum took place in 1866, at the time under the name of the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art.
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The National Museum of Scotland has a wide variety of exhibits ranging from Science and Technology, World cultures, Art and Design and Scottish History to Archeology and Anthropology. You will be able to see for instance the oldest color television or the body of the first mammal ever cloned in 1996: Dolly the sheep. It has more than ten galleries and you will be glad to know that new Ancient Egypt, East Asia and ceramics galleries just opened this year, even more things to discover! Also, admission is free, a plus for students.
EDINBURGH CASTLE
- NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
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Edinburgh Castle is located at the top of Castle hill. Before having a civilian use and being open to the public, the castle was a military fortress during the Iron Age, and then it was the Royal residence from 1500s to 1900s as well as the Prison of War (for your information, the first prisoners were French privateers but no worries, you will for sure enjoy your stay more than them).
Concerning what to do there, you will be able to visit amongst other things the Scottish National War Memorial and Museum, the One o’clock Gun, the Stone of Destiny, the Honours of Scotland and the St Margaret’s chapel –which is actually the oldest part and dates from the 12th Century.
SURGEON’S HALL MUSEUMS
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The Surgeon’s Hall Museum gathers the Wohl Pathology Museum, the History of surgery Museum and the Dental Collection. Part of the oldest museums in Scotland, this place was originally dedicated to medical teaching, established as a museum and first open to the public in 1832. It is indeed the headquarters of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh which was created in 1505 and which is still an education place nowadays. The museum comprises one of the largest medical collections of the United Kingdom.
If you are curious to see Human remains preserved in chloroform do not hesitate to come and say hello! The many rooms of the three parts of the museum will allow you to learn more about the evolution of surgery, its history and the instruments used during medical operations. Another point is the place of women in the world of surgery -and especially during war- which is interesting to explore. Whilst passing from a gallery to another, you will see many different kinds of specimens, radiographs, paintings and even an interactive dissection table for the bravest ones.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY
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Founded in 1850, the Scottish National Gallery is the merge of both National Gallery Building and the Royal Scottish Academy Building that were connected in 2004. It comprises one of the widest collections of fine art, modern and contemporary art which is considered as one of the best in the world at the scale of Le Louvre in Paris or The Metropolitan Museum in New-York and is able to demonstrate master pieces of some of the most famous artists such as Monet, Van-Gogh, Gauguin, Raphael and Boticelli among many others. And good news: admission is free !
