The castle’s royal palace is already raising Stirling’s international profile – and it’s not even open yet. On Easter Monday we welcomed a high-profile delegation from the Moscow Kremlin Museums, being shown the best of our heritage by the British Council Scotland. It was a chance to swap ideas and expertise with people who run some of the most spectacular sites in the world.

While Stirling Castle is very impressive, and our project to return the palace to how it might have been in the mid 16th-century is large by Scottish standards, we wondered how it would seem to our guests. After all they have the Armoury Chamber (a huge treasure house), plus a series of palaces and cathedrals built on the grandest scale and packed with historical and artistic wonders. In fact they were tremendously impressed with the work we are undertaking to make the castle even more appealing to visitors, with the new displays, exhibitions and shops that are all part and parcel of the palace project.

As the Russian party included people such as restoration expert Dr Vladimir Vychuzhanin, and art historian and museum director Dr Elena Gagarina, we treated them to a sneak preview of the palace. Most of the decoration is now complete and the furnishings are being put in place for the celebratory events of 4 and 5 June which will mark its opening. Again, the Russians were full of praise for the way we are refurbishing the apartments, to show what a Scottish royal palace may have been like in its heyday.

Historic Scotland monitors where visitors come from and Russia is an emerging market. So trips like these have a multitude of benefits. On the academic side, it’s enormously useful to make connections with people from elsewhere in the world to share information and ideas. It would be great to understand more about Scotland’s 16th century links with the east.

Just as important is that it carries a lot of weight when people who work in museums and historic buildings abroad tell their colleagues, friends and families that Stirling is a great place to visit. We hope that this will be one of very many examples of how the palace will act as a beacon for tourism, helping attract visitors from all round the world.

Gillian MacDonald, Stirling Castle Executive Manager

Tickets for the celebratory events on the weekend of 4 and 5 June go on sale on the castle website from 28th April. Entry before 4pm is by pre-purchased ticket only to avoid overcrowding, and ensure everyone has the best possible time. Opening hours have been extended both days so those without pre-purchased tickets can come in from 4pm to 7pm and pay on arrival