Panorama taken from the Inner Close of Stirling Castle. The picture shows the various buildings that surround the Inner Close.

Stirling Castle - Inner Close - Stirling visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Stirling Castle - Inner Close' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Stirlingshire.

The Inner Close formed the heart of Stirling Castle. It is surrounded by the Great Hall, Royal Palace, Old King's Building and Chapel Royal. The Inner Close is linked to the Outer Close by a passageway between the Great Hall and Royal Palace. A gate on the northern side leads from the Inner Close to the Douglas Garden.

The oldest part of the Inner Close is the Old King's Building, built around 1497 by James IV, and much altered since then. He then built the Great Hall. The Royal Palace was begun by King James V in the 1530s and completed after his death in 1542.

Architecturally, the Royal Palace is one of the most important buildings in Scotland. It was the first Renaissance palace in the British Isles, completed with late Gothic detail. The statues that adorn the Royal Palace were inspired by the German sculpture Hans Burgkmair.

Stirling Castle
Esplanade,
Stirling, FK8 1EJ

The route to Stirling Castle is marked along back streets ascending through the Old Town to the Esplanade in Stirling. Parking available at the end of the Esplanade. Stirling Castle is managed by Historic Scotland and entrance is ticketed.