Edin­burgh has been the Scot­tish cap­i­tal since the 15th cen­tu­ry. It has two dis­tinct areas: the Old Town, dom­i­nat­ed by a medieval fortress, and the neo­clas­si­cal New Town, whose devel­op­ment from the 18th cen­tu­ry onwards had a far-reach­ing influ­ence on Euro­pean urban plan­ning. The har­mo­nious jux­ta­po­si­tion of these two con­trast­ing his­toric areas, each with many impor­tant build­ings, is what gives the city its unique char­ac­ter.