Siege's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Edinburgh, Scotland

Cannonball House

This cannonball embedded in the side of an Edinburgh house once served a surprisingly pedestrian purpose.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Edinburgh Maiden

This early version of the guillotine was used to execute the man responsible for its construction.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Millennium Clock Tower

The dance of this huge clock is a magnificent and eerie commentary on good and evil in the history of humankind.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Rooftop Terrace at the National Museum of Scotland

There are plenty of wonderful panoramic vistas in Edinburgh, but not many are hidden smack in the middle of the Old Town.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Medieval Water Pipes

These wooden pipes were crucial to providing water to Medieval Edinburgh.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Greyfriars Cemetery Mortsafes

Protecting the dead from opportunistic body snatchers.
Edinburgh, Scotland

George Mackenzie's Mausoleum

The tomb of one of Scotland's bloody historic villains is a magnet for bumbling desecrators.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Greyfriars Bobby

The most loyal of little dogs, or a Victorian era publicity stunt?
Edinburgh, Scotland

Magdalen Chapel

The 16th-century church has the only stained glass windows that survived the Scottish Reformation intact.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Writers' Museum

This small museum in a 17th-century building honors three iconic Scottish writers.
Edinburgh, Scotland

David Hume's Statue

Touching this 18th-century Scottish philosopher’s toe allegedly conjures good fortune.
Edinburgh, Scotland

John Knox's Grave

The Scottish Reformation leader's grave was paved over and is now a parking lot.
Edinburgh, Scotland

'The Cutty Stool'

A bronze statue of a low three-legged seat commemorates a piece of furniture that started a riot.
Edinburgh, Scotland

St Giles' Cathedral Thistle Chapel

The 20th-century chapel’s intricate woodwork includes amazing details, most notably angels playing bagpipes.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Wardrop's Court Dragons

A quartet of brightly colored mythical beasts stand sentry at this gateway.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Heart of Midlothian

A sweet symbol marks the place where torturous executions were once carried out.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Roxburgh Court Tree Plaques

These plaques located in a court preserve a small piece of Edinburgh's history.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Blair Street Underground Vaults

A labyrinthine network of chambers with a storied past hides below Edinburgh's South Bridge.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scotsman Steps

The colorful stairs are made with marble from the world's major quarries.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary King's Close

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Flodden Wall

Remnants of the 16th-century defensive wall still stand unassumingly within Edinburgh.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Luckenbooths

Brass bricks outline the locations of Edinburgh's lost, lively market stalls.