text: A prominent feature on Edinburghs most famous high street the Royal Mile St Giles is another site synonymous with historical EdinburghnnAlthough it is called a Cathedral St Giles is actually a Church of Scotland High Kirk It was technically only a Cathedral twice when Episcopalian groups gained control during the th century Prior to the Reformation Edinburgh fell under the jurisdiction of St Andrews Cathedral so St Giles remained merely a Church in all but name nnSt Giles is the patron saint of Edinburgh for whom the Cathedral is named after Its oldest part supposedly dates back the the s the central pillars But the main Church was rebuilt after a fire in the s after which bits were added over time After the Reformation St Giles arguably gained in importance This is after all where the famous or infamous John Knox preached It is sometimes called the mother church of PresbyterianismnnIf you could not tell already there is a lot of history to St Giles You can find out more when you visit Its many monuments and memorials and generally very pretty interior make this Cathedral an essential tourist attraction A notable example would be a memorial to Robert Louis StevensonnnSo there is no excuse not to visit Especially as it is free