June 8, 1998
Web posted at: 10:50 a.m. EST (1550 GMT)

(CNN) -- In the spit and polish shine of the late 20th century, many people remain fascinated by the Middle Ages -- and by the castles that dot the European landscape.

The allure of the castle comes in many forms -- a tie to royalty, some mystery of medieval times. And then there are the unique stories behind each castle....

Edinburgh Castle, built in Scotland's capital in the 11th century, stands on an extinct volcano. There's evidence that the site was inhabited some 2,000 years before the castle's construction, and today it is still a working castle, garrisoned by more than 100 members of the Scottish division of the British Army.

It's one of the best preserved castles in Europe, the symbol of Scotland, its silhouette looming over Edinburgh. Tiny Saint Margaret's Chapel is the oldest surviving building on the castle grounds, and a few footsteps away, gunfire breaks the silence at 1 p.m. each weekday, calling to mind images of siege and sovereignty from long ago.

Inside, visitors can see the crown jewels and the castle's great hall, where kings and queens feasted during the early 1500s. The great hall's roof is built like the hull of a boat -- no nails, only wooden pegs to hold it together. Relics of war line the walls.

Join the tour as guide Normen Watt tells visitors about the crown jewels.... 1.5 MB / 27 sec. / 240x180 AIFF or WAV (320 K / 27 sec. audio)

Thousands of tourists follow the footsteps of royalty through the halls and rooms of Edinburgh Castle, including the chamber where Mary, Queen of Scots spent 17 hours in labor at the birth of the future James I of England.

"This is the birthplace of James VI of Scotland, and James VI became James I of England," a tour guide explains. "He was the king who united the kingdoms, and from that time we were known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain."