Falkland Palace
The Royal Palace of Falkland was the country residence of Stuart kings and queens when they hunted deer and wild boar in the Fife forest. Mary, Queen of Scots spent some of the happiest days of her tragic life here, playing the country girl in the woods and parks. The Palace was built between 1501 and 1541 by James IV and James V, replacing earlier castle and palace buildings dating from the 12th century, traces of which can still be seen in the grounds. The roofed South Range contains the Chapel Royal, and the East Range the Kings Bedchamber and the Queens Room, both restored by the Trust. The Keepers Apartments in the Gatehouse are now also on display. The palace contains fine portraits of the Stuart monarchs and two sets of 17th-century tapestry hangings.
The garden, designed and built by Percy Cane between 1947 and 1952, contains three herbaceous borders enclosing a wide lawn with many varieties of shrubs and trees. Here also is the original Royal Tennis Court the oldest in Britain still in use built in 1539. There is also a small herb garden border featuring quotations from John Gerards book Herball (1597). Exhibitions at Royal Tennis Court and at Town Hall.
Opening Hours
Palace & Garden: 1 March to 31 Oct, MonSat 105, Sun 15.
Gift Shop: 1 March to 31 Oct, MonSat 105; Sun 15; 1 Nov to 23 Dec and 5 Jan to 29 Feb, MonSat 114, Sun 14.
Contact
Ms
Karen
Caldwell
Falkland
Falkland
Fife
KY15 7BU
Scotland
Tel: +44 (1337) 857397
Tel: +44 (1337) 857918
Fax: +44 (1337) 857980
E-Mail: information@nts.org.uk
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