Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by Jacobite forces, and subsequently decayed. In the 20th century it was placed in state care as a scheduled monument and opened to the public: it is now one of the most-visited castles in Scotland.