29 November 2012 Gillian MacDonald - The Restoration of Stirling Castle

Rotary enjoys a history lesson

The recent £12million refurbishment of the James V palace apartments at - enhanced by tales of Stewart intrigue, buried skeletons and the Stirling Heads - are proving such a hit with tourists that in a recent Which survey, the castle was voted the top heritage attraction in the .

            The executive manager of the castle Gillian MacDonald told members at the club's 39^th anniversary meeting  last Thursday that the castle attracted more than 441,000 last year. She is also optimistic that numbers will continue to rise as more people recognise as a top tourist destination. She said 2014 in particular will be a bonanza year.  "We will be commemorating and the new visitor centre, the Homecoming, the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games."

            The upsurge in interest is due to a number of factors that have heightened the visitor experience. Not least the many years of historical research before embarking on the projects, then employing specialist craftsmen, carpenters, artists, painters, weavers and embroiderers. And the innovation of using permanent 'costume interpreters' who give historical information to visitors as they tour the palace apartments has proved very popular. "Sometimes you may be met by a French ambassador, a maid, or Mary Queen of Scots herself," she said.

The refurbishment is has yet to be completed, with the remaining two of the seven magnificent tapestries in the apartments still being woven. "Each takes two to three years to weave and we look forward to the sixth next year, with the final one in 2014."

The castle facilities are now being used for a number of functions, including a concert a few days ago by Rod Stewart that will be screened on 9 December