This is an official guide to one of Scotland's most visited tourist attractions, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, an ancient Royal residence. Situated in the shadow of Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past - and in particular with Mary Queen of Scots, who spent much of her troubled reign there. This informative guide recounts the palace's history from its origins as an abbey to its regular use by Her Majesty the Queen today. It describes the state rooms and historic apartments open to the public - including the chambers of Mary Queen of Scots and the ruins of the Abbey Church - explaining the paintings and portraits, furniture and furnishings, ceilings and panellings and other fine and historic contents. The book is illustrated with colour photographs and includes plans of the public rooms - with details of the new visitors' route that begins in the 1995 summer season - and a complete list of every work in each room.