Mercat Cross

One of the most prominent — and best recognised — features on Edinburgh's Royal Mile is its Mercat Cross, a traditional feature of Scottish towns If you’ve ever walked up Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, you’re bound to have seen the Mercat Cross. The historic landmark stands outside St Giles’ Cathedral, at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mercat crosses (‘Market’, in Scots) were built in towns and villages originally as sites for regular markets where merchants could trade. They also acted as a place where people would gather to hear important public announcements, such as royal and parliamentary proclamations, a practice that continues to this day. Today, the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh is still used to announce the calling of a general election, along with notable royal proclamations.

I saw the Royal Unicorn in Edinburgh and was immediately impressed by its shine and by the way it dominates the space from its tall pedestal. The statue has a strong, elegant, and imposing presence, catching the attention of everyone who passes by. The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland and an ancient symbol of power, purity, courage, and independence. It appears frequently in Scottish royal heraldry and is associated with the protection of the kingdom and spiritual strength. Over the centuries, the image of the unicorn has become a true emblem of Scottish identity, and this statue reflects the country’s rich traditions and history.

Lovely landmark just in front of the cathedral. Very popular spot for tours to meet.

Took two tours from Mercat Tours, both of which started at the cross. Highly recommend seeing Edinburgh this way as there is so much history and so many closes with unique features and histories. The Mercat Cross has so much more to it than meets the eye...and it's beautiful.

An impressive and unique structure and monument stood outside of the cathedral. There are lots of interesting sites in this area and it is worth spending time seeing them.

A monument in Parliament Square, located just to the east of St. Giles Cathedral. The current version dates to 1885 but the location has been used for centuries - going back at least to 1365. The Cross was the location for public announcements, proclamations, and executions. The monument is located Old Town, facing the Edinburgh City Chambers. Free of charge to see it.

Literally just a landmark that looks cool. Met here for the Mercat vault tour which we loved though! I think the history of this landmark is interesting though, you'll have to wait till you do a tour to find out..

This is the spot where you start your history tour with Mercat Tours. Mercat means market. Sounds very Latin 🙂