什麼是愛丁堡

蘇格蘭首府，人口448,900（1995）。位於蘇格蘭東南部，舊有的自治市，即現在的舊城（Old Town），11世紀興起，愛丁堡城堡為麥爾坎三世（Malcolm III MacDuncan）的皇室宅邸。1329年蘇格蘭國王羅伯特一世（Robert the Bruce）頒賜愛丁堡城鎮建制，1437年成為蘇格蘭王國的首都。1544年在和英格蘭的邊界戰役中被摧毀，其後重建時都改採石質結構。到18世紀，文化和知性活動在蘇格蘭興起，愛丁堡成為休姆（David Hume）、亞當斯密、柏恩斯（Robert Burns）、司各脱（Walter Scott）等着名學者的家鄉，也是《大英百科全書》（Encyclop?dia Britannica, 1768）、《愛丁堡評論》（Edinburgh Review, 1802）的誕生地。18世紀後期愛丁堡以喬治風格發展的新城（New Town）不斷向外擴展，與舊城以河谷區隔開來。愛丁堡為蘇格蘭文化暨教育中心，設有愛丁堡大學（University of Edinburgh）、英國國立圖書館（National Library）、英國國立美術館（National Gallery）、皇家蘇格蘭博物館（Royal Scottish Museum）等，亦為蘇格蘭國會所在地。

Edinburgh

City (pop., 1995: 448,900), capital of Scotland. Located in southeastern Scotland, the original burgh, now known as Old Town, arose in the 11th century AD, around Edinburgh Castle, the royal residence of Malcolm III MacDuncan. In 1329 Robert the Bruce granted Edinburgh a town charter; it became the capital of the Scottish kingdom in 1437. The city was destroyed in 1544 in the border wars with England; its characteristic use of stone architecture began with this rebuilding. The 18th century saw a cultural and intellectual renaissance in Scotland, and Edinburgh was home to such luminaries as David Hume, Adam Smith, Robert Burns, and Walter Scott. It was the birthplace of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1768) and the Edinburgh Review (1802). The city expanded in the late 18th century with the development of the Georgian-style New Town, separated from the Old Town by a valley. It is the center of Scottish culture and education and is home to the University of Edinburgh, National Library, National Gallery, and Royal Scottish Museum. It is the site of the Scots national parliament.