LONDON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition telling the story of Britain's most besieged castle opened Thursday in Edinburgh Castle.
The new permanent exhibition "Fight for the Castle" reveals a chapter of Edinburgh Castle's history with cutting-edge animations and immersive displays.
"Fight for the Castle" focuses on the historic stronghold's many sieges as it changed hands between the Scots and English several times from 1286 to 1356. The castle is the most besieged in Britain.
Housed in the castle's 19th century Argyle Tower, the exhibition sits above the Portcullis Gate, where the entrance to the castle has been since prehistory. The gateway itself was the scene of a siege in 1341.
The 424,000 U.S. dollar project is the first new permanent exhibition to open at Edinburgh Castle since the Prisons of War in 2002.
The exhibition comprises a highly atmospheric, multi-layered display presented around a 14-foot-tall, sculptural siege engine - representing what is believed to have been the first use of these fearsome weapons in Scotland during the siege of the castle in 1296.
Designed for a multi-lingual audience, the story is told using sound and light, images and real objects. Short, simple text provides an historical timeline. For those with little time or no English, the story of the castle changing hands on several occasions is summarised in a single captivating animation.
Medieval objects found within the castle's walls are displayed throughout, ranging from a 14.5 kg trebuchet ball to the tiny spherical remains of frozen sparks from the smithy set up in the castle in 1335.
Historic Environment Scotland CEO Alex Paterson was joined by the Scottish regional government's Cabinet Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop on a tour of the exhibition on Thursday.
Paterson said: "We've delivered something completely different for the 'Fight for the Castle' exhibition - an immersive and atmospheric experience that we hope will both inform and inspire visitors through sound, light and projected imagery.
"Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most-visited paid-for attraction, with over two million people passing over the castle's drawbridge in the last financial year. As visitor numbers continue to grow year on year, we're continuously looking for ways to enhance the visitor experience."
Culture Secretary Hyslop said: "I am confident that, by combining innovation, entertainment and tradition, the exhibition will manage to attract and educate visitors who are keen to discover more about Scotland's glorious past."
