Castlegate Square, Aberdeen
Castlegate Square is a small section of the city of Aberdeen. The area is surrounded by Castle Street and Castle Terrace. It is signified by the Mercat cross, which was built in 1686.
The Mercat Cross was designed by John Montgomery. It is a hexagonal structure that is enclosed and adorned with medallions featuring Stewart monarchs, the Royal arms and the burgh's arms. A gilded, marble unicorn sits atop the structure.
Castlegate Square was once the spot where merchants met to peddle their wares. The cobbled streets still give visitors access to shops, restaurants and pop-up vendors who may sell arts, crafts or antiques. It is also home to the Salvation Army Citadel.
The square is the traditional location of the city Christmas Tree, which usually stands next to the Mercat Cross. It is also known as being the site of public executions. The last of these took place in 1857.
The Mercat Cross was designed by John Montgomery. It is a hexagonal structure that is enclosed and adorned with medallions featuring Stewart monarchs, the Royal arms and the burgh's arms. A gilded, marble unicorn sits atop the structure.
Castlegate Square was once the spot where merchants met to peddle their wares. The cobbled streets still give visitors access to shops, restaurants and pop-up vendors who may sell arts, crafts or antiques. It is also home to the Salvation Army Citadel.
The square is the traditional location of the city Christmas Tree, which usually stands next to the Mercat Cross. It is also known as being the site of public executions. The last of these took place in 1857.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aberdeen. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Castlegate Square on Map
Sight Name: Castlegate Square
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Aberdeen, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Aberdeen
Creating your own self-guided walk in Aberdeen is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Aberdeen Introduction Walking Tour
The area where Aberdeen now sits has been inhabited by people for at least 8,000 years. The city that we now know as Aberdeen was first chartered in 1179. It was granted city status in 1891.
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Aberdeen Old Town Tour
Established in 1489 as a separate burgh, Old Aberdeen was an important political, ecclesiastical and cultural center since the late Middle Ages. The locality merged with the rest of Aberdeen only in 1891. Today, the central part of the Old Town is a conservation area, characterized by well-preserved medieval dwellings and many other unique, vernacular structures of the 17th-early 19th centuries,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles