Photos

This is taken from the battlements of Stirling Castle, looking towards the Wallace Monument, which is in the centre of the photo (the small tower atop the green hill). The Wallace Monument, an eccentric gothic-style tower, was completed in 1869 to commemorate the 13th century Scottish hero William Wallace (who is played by Mel Gibson in Braveheart). There was a growing awareness of Scottish nationalism in the 19th century (this was true of many other countries as well), as well as a fashion for gothic and medieval architecture. ‘Medievalism’ became fashionable because it was viewed as a return to basic Christian values, in reaction against the Enlightenment. So, although eccentric, the Wallace Monument says a lot about its time. The Monument still towers over the city of Stirling (to the left of the picture) and offers stunning views across the hills.

I will shortly be posting a picture of the Wallace Monument closer-up – it’s an impressive building, and the scale in this photo does not do the architecture justice, as I have tried to give a sense of the overall surroundings.