Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel, established in 1456 by the Sinclair family, is one of the oldest and most aesthetically pleasing churches in Scotland. There must be a lot of heartfelt tales associated with this place. For instance, the building’s long history of neglect.

During the religious upheaval of the 16th century in Scotland, the Sinclairs were told to tear down the altar and leave Rosslyn Chapel. The family continued their Catholicism and attended mass in a makeshift chapel. The infamous Oliver Cromwell’s troops even stayed there with their horses later on. Rosslyn Chapel lost its lustre over time.

However, many still came to see it. At the close of the eighteenth century, the church even moved national poet Robert Burns. After finally seeing the church in 1842, Queen Victoria determined that the overgrown Rosslyn Chapel must be preserved for the good of the country. To follow orders, services were resumed at this location 20 years later.

The full restoration didn’t begin for another century, and it’s still ongoing since dampness is so hard on the walls. However, the splendour of yesteryear is still palpable to modern-day tourists.

How to get there?

From the heart of Edinburgh, you can get there in around 50 minutes via a picturesque drive or the Lothian number 37 bus.

Interesting fact

Popular novelist Dan Brown had the climactic scene from his book “The Da Vinci Code” performed in the church. Approximately 150,000 people visit this site annually because of the cinematic adaptation of the novel.