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Situated in the Scottish Highlands, at the mouth of the River Ness, Inverness is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom.

Although Inverness was granted city status in 2000, the settlement was established as far back as the 6th century, with its first royal charter being granted by King David I in the 12th century. As the administrative centre for the Highland Council, it is regarded as the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

The origins of Inverness go back to the prehistoric era, when it was inhabited by ancient people. Remnants of fortresses and excavated burial sites reveal the city's early Celtic roots. In the late 1990s, a Bronze Age settlement and cemetery were discovered, and, shortly afterward, an Iron Age settlement was uncovered. Included was an ironsmith, one of the earliest examples of ironsmithing in Scotland.

In the 500s AD, Inverness was one of the chief strongholds of the Picts, a Pre-Viking, Early Middle Age group who inhabited Britain, north of the Forth-Clyde isthmus.

The Gaelic King Mac Bethad Mac Findláich (MacBeth), whose 11th-century killing of King Duncan was told in the largely fictionalized Shakespearean play, Macbeth, had a castle within the city. Inverness Castle is believed to have been built for Malcolm III of Scotland after he had razed the former castle. In medieval times, Inverness was raided several times by the Hebrides.

During the post-medieval period, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied admittance to Inverness Castle by the governor, after which the castle was taken over by the Clan Munro and Clan Fraser of Lovat. The house in which she lived stood along Bridge Street until it was demolished in the 1970s as part of the second Bridge Street development project.

Just outside of the then limits of Inverness, Oliver Cromwell built a citadel capable of accommodating a thousand people, but it was demolished during the Stuart Restoration, except for a portion of the ramparts.

Inverness was besieged by a contingent of the Jacobites during the Jacobite Rising of 1689. When the main Jacobite army arrived, Viscount Dundee, the Jacobite commander, required Inverness to profess loyalty to King James VII.

By the 19th century, Inverness had gone through significant transformations, particularly as the Industrial Revolution introduced modernization and urban development. The construction of the Caledonian Canal, connecting the city to the west coast, helped the city to become a transportation centre.

The city gained international prominence due to its proximity to the Loch Ness, and its legendary Loch Ness Monster.

Today, Inverness is a blend of its ancient heritage and contemporary amenities. The city has a bustling cultural scene, including arts and music traditions, festivals and other events, restaurants, and nightlife.

The surrounding area appeals to nature enthusiasts. Its rolling hills, glens, and lochs bring visitors to the city. Loch Ness, for example, drew people to the area even before reports of the Loch Ness Monster were popularized. Visitors to the region often find Inverness to be an excellent base for exploring the Scottish Highlands.

The city is also home to several historic buildings, ancient ruins, and architectural wonders. An integral part of the city's culture is its Gaelic language and traditional festivals. Gaelic, a Celtic language, is spoken by several of the city's local residents, and many of its festivals, music, dance, and even sports competitions, bear homage to the language.

While English is commonly spoken in Inverness, visitors can expect to find various Scottish phrases and expressions mixed into the local language, along with locals speaking Gaelic to one another.

As with many other Scottish cities, its traditional industries, such as distilling, have been replaced by high-tech businesses.

The Inverness City Centre is along the east bank of the River Ness, and connected to the west side of the city by three road bridges: Ness Bridge, Friars Bridge, and the Black Bridge, sometimes known as the Waterloo Bridge. The Greig Street Bridge, a suspension footbridge, is also in the City Centre area.

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