什么是爱丁堡

苏格兰首府，人口448,900（1995）。位於苏格兰东南部，旧有的自治市，即现在的旧城（Old Town），11世纪兴起，爱丁堡城堡为麦尔坎三世（Malcolm III MacDuncan）的皇室宅邸。1329年苏格兰国王罗伯特一世（Robert the Bruce）颁赐爱丁堡城镇建制，1437年成为苏格兰王国的首都。1544年在和英格兰的边界战役中被摧毁，其後重建时都改采石质结构。到18世纪，文化和知性活动在苏格兰兴起，爱丁堡成为休姆（David Hume）、亚当斯密、柏恩斯（Robert Burns）、司各脱（Walter Scott）等着名学者的家乡，也是《大英百科全书》（Encyclop?dia Britannica, 1768）、《爱丁堡评论》（Edinburgh Review, 1802）的诞生地。18世纪後期爱丁堡以乔治风格发展的新城（New Town）不断向外扩展，与旧城以河谷区隔开来。爱丁堡为苏格兰文化暨教育中心，设有爱丁堡大学（University of Edinburgh）、英国国立图书馆（National Library）、英国国立美术馆（National Gallery）、皇家苏格兰博物馆（Royal Scottish Museum）等，亦为苏格兰国会所在地。

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.