Or CLICK ON EDINBURGH'S HIDDEN HISTORY

Edinburgh World Heritage and Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust have joined forces to create a series of new, free podcasts celebrating the literary and built heritage of the Scotland's Capital City.

Ten fun and informative podcasts have been created exploring some of Edinburgh's most famous landmarks, their architectural history and curiosities and their literary links - from Calton Hill to Princes Street Gardens, The Netherbow to The Canongate, from Robert Louis Stevenson to Daniel Defoe, Ian Rankin to Quintin Jardine.  Using quotes from writers, poets and some of the classic stories inspired by the built environment of the city, the podcasts are designed to reveal some of the hidden gems and history of the city for visitors at home planning their trip.  They can also be downloaded and used as an audio guide whilst walking around the city.

The Podcasts can be found on the VisitScotland.com website (http://www.visitscotland.com/guide/scotland-factfile/arts-culture/literature/edinburgh-stories/) and are linked from both the EWH (www.ewht.co.uk) and EUCLT (www.cityofliterature.com) sites.

Ali Bowden, Manager of the City of Literature Trust said: ‘Edinburgh is a stunning city, visually striking and rich in its literary heritage. There are lots of links between its buildings and authors, the most obvious being the contrast between Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town, linked to Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde character.  We hope these new downloads prove popular to locals and visitors alike.'

Adam Wilkinson, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage said: ‘Edinburgh is unique in having two UNESCO designations, recognising its world-class architectural heritage, and its reputation as a city built on books, the capital of a nation renowned throughout the world for its architecture and history as well as its writers, past and present.  These podcasts are designed to show the fascinating links between these aspects of our city's extraordinary heritage, and encourage visitors to get off the well-worn tourist routes and explore the many nooks and crannies of the city.'

The project is supported by the Scottish Arts Council. Dr Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, said: ‘From its railway station and football team named after novels by Sir Walter Scott, to the writers celebrated in the stones of Makar Court, to the iconic J. K. Rowling café, few cities boast the riches of their literary life, past and present, with such thrilling palpability as Edinburgh.  These ten delightful podcasts will offer visitors near and far a gateway to Edinburgh's literary worlds.

For further information please contact: David Hicks, Communications Manager, Edinburgh World Heritage Tel. 0131 220 7723                          Frances Sutton, PR Consultant Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust       Tel. 0131 220 7723  frances@cityofliterature.com

Edinburgh World Heritage

Edinburgh World Heritage is the official champion of the city's World Heritage Site. EWH is sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland, and works to protect, enhance and promote the World Heritage Site. www.ewht.org.uk

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh are one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. The unique character of the city comes from the striking contrast between the medieval Old Town and the classical New Town, with each area containing many significant historic buildings. The medieval Old Town has retained much of its distinctive pattern of narrow passageways, known as closes and wynds, while the core of the New Town is still laid out according to the plan drawn up in 1767 by architect James Craig.

Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature

DESIGNATION - In October 2004, Edinburgh became the very first UNESCO City of Literature, pioneer in a new international network of cities under UNESCO's Global Alliance programme which is designed as a social and economic development tool. The designation means that Edinburgh has great development potential in a specific sector - literature - and that UNESCO supports the city's efforts in building its creative industry.  The designation serves as a platform to harness the will, potential and capacity of a city's public, private and civil society stakeholders under a common development umbrella in the literary sector.  The designation is reviewed every two years with an evaluation process and means that each city has to show a willingness to continue developing its creative industry.

BACKGROUND - The designation was the culmination of two years' work by a dedicated group of people working within the literature sector in Scotland, who had conceived and developed the idea and presented it to UNESCO for validation.  This group had the support of the Scottish Executive, Scottish Arts Council and City of Edinburgh Council, and was seed-funded by the Scottish Arts Council. The First Minister Jack McConnell has given his endorsement to the project, as have four of Edinburgh's best-known authors: Dame Muriel Spark, J K Rowling, Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith.

The title acknowledges Edinburgh's unique reputation as a city built on books, and as the capital of a nation renowned throughout the world for its writers, past and present.  The city is home to the world's biggest international literary book festival, numerous libraries and prestigious collections, and booksellers, both new and antiquarian.  Leading publishers and publications originated in the city, and a thriving publishing industry continues today.  It is a noted centre of education, and has shared its expertise in learning all over the world.  Edinburgh has been the inspiration for many classic works of literature, and world-famous writers live and work in the city.

TRUST'S AIMS - Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust (EUCLT) was established in July 2004 with the following aims:

To provide a focus and co-ordination for literary activity, to encourage greater participation and to attract new initiatives.

To create an international model for a world-wide network of Cities of Literature and to develop partnerships with other cities with strong literary profiles and aspirations.

To promote recognition and prestige for Scotland's literary life nationally and internationally through Edinburgh's designation as UNESCO's first City of Literature.

Join Wallace and Gromit - discover Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World...

The Lost World Read 2009 - February's citywide reading campaign - www.cityofliterature.com

The Lost World...it's a cracking read, Gromit

Frances Sutton

Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust

9/2 Tweeddale Court

14 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TE

Tel. (0) 131 557 9821

In 2004 Edinburgh became the world's first UNESCO City of Literature, pioneer in a new international network of cities under UNESCO's Creative Cities programme.  The City of Literature Trust is a charity that works with partners to promote literary activity in Edinburgh, champion Scotland's literature and develop literary partnerships around the world.

Find out more about Edinburgh's world of words - join our free e-bulletin - www.cityofliterature.com

Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature is the operating name of Edinburgh World City of Literature Trust which is a company limited by guarantee (No. 270581) and registered as a charity (SC035697).