Daily 9:30am-4:45pm, Sun 10:30am-4:40pm
Closed the last 2 weeks in May and 3 weeks in late June and early July (dates vary)
Admission charged
Early in the 16th century, this palace was built by James IV adjacent to an Augustinian abbey David I had established in the 12th century. The nave of the abbey church, now in ruins, still remains, but only the north tower of James's palace is left. Most of what is seen was built by Charles II after Scotland and England were united in the 17th century. The palace suffered long periods of neglect. It had a brief moment of recognition in the mid-18th century when Bonnie Prince Charlie spearheaded a failed effort to unite all of the Scottish clans in their struggle against the English.