Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin (Scotland)

Summary

15th century buildings
No smoking
Art and sculpture
Guided tours
Gift shop
Gardens
Free car parking (on site)

Food and Drinks

Tea Room

Introduction

Originally built as a Roman Catholic Chapel, it has some of Europe's most exquisite carvings that depict scenes not found in any other 15th century Christian place of worship including many sculptures relevant to Pagan, Masonic and Knights Templar alongside biblical ones. such as the Green Man. Stretching 21 metres in length and 13 metres high, almost every surface of Rosslyn Chapel is carved with hundreds of individual figures and scenes with the strange carvings of cacti and Indian corn which were totally unknown in Europe at the time.

History to the present day

Rosslyn Chapel was designed by William St Clair and took over forty years to complete in 1446. The chapel has found further notoriety in its starring role in recent best seller and movie, The Da Vinci Code. Rosslyn Chapel has long been associated with the Knights Templar, an ancient order going back to the days of the Crusades. In the 12th century the grand master of the order was married to Katherine St Clair and two of the grand masters in the 13th and 14th centuries were members of the St Clair family. When the order was persecuted by the Pope in the early 14th century, it is said that some of the Knights escaped to Scotland leaving behind their treasure. Although the original plans for Rosslyn have never been found, it is widely thought that the chapel was originally intended to be part of a larger building.

Grounds and gardens

Visit the chapel gardens and cemetary.

Other facilities

Guided tours normally every hour throughout the day. There is a gift shop in the chapel.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: , Scotland, , United Kingdom

Opening Times: Open Daily except,24th, 25th, 31st December and 1st January. Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm and Sundays 12.00am-4.45pm

Directions: From Edinburgh Waverley take A701, towards Penicuik. Roslin is sign posted to the left at Bliston.

More photos of Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin

Stained Glass

Interior

Carving