Visit this beautiful chapel for its unique and mysterious carvings, which have prompted quite a few speculative theories over the years.
The Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin, founded in 1446, draws visitors from all over the world to its beautiful setting and its unique and mysterious carvings, which have prompted quite a few speculative theories over the years. Most notably, the chapel is connected to legends of Freemasonry, the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. In fact, it was prominently featured in the novel and film The Da Vinci Code.
This ornate chapel took some 40 years to complete, and its intricate carvings have mystified people for centuries—it remains unknown if the patterns have any specific meaning. Adding to the mystery is the chapel vault, the burial place for several generations of the family Sinclair, which has been kept sealed for many years. This has led to theories about the vault containing the Holy Grail, the original Crown Jewels of Scotland and the mummified head of Jesus Christ—among other sacred artefacts.
You can learn all about these stories and more on a guided tour or by browsing the state-of-the-art visitor centre that tells the chapel’s tales from its 15th century roots to modern day.
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