Description of the attraction
The Wallace Monument is a tower at the top of Abbey Craig Hill on the border of Stirling, Scotland. The monument was erected in honor of the Scottish national hero William Wallace. At the end of the XIII century, the English king Edward I invaded Scotland, and the country fell under the rule of England. Wallace, along with Andrew Morray, led the liberation movement against the British. In September 1297, one of the most famous battles of the Scottish War of Independence took place - the Battle of Stirling Bridge, where Scottish troops defeated the British. The battle played a decisive role, and most of Scotland was liberated, and William Wallace was elected Guardian of Scotland in the absence of the rightful King John I. According to legend, it was from the top of the Abbey-Craig hill that Wallace watched the British troops before the battle on Stirling Bridge.
The tower was built with raised public money at the end of the 19th century, in the wake of increased interest in Scottish national history and identity. Some of the money came from foreign donors, including Italian national leader Giuseppe Garibaldi. The monument is a square tower 67 meters high, made in the Victorian Gothic style. The tower is open to visitors and houses the Hall of Fame, the Museum of the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the William Wallace exhibition. On the top floor of the tower there is an open observation deck, "Crown".
At the foot of the hill stands the Liberty sculpture depicting a Scottish warrior with a claymore (two-handed sword), a battle flail and a round shield. The statue is somewhat reminiscent of the character Mel Gibson from the movie "Braveheart" - the sculptor was inspired by this very image of William Wallace.
