Rosslyn Chapel

A Complete Visitor's Guide to Rosslyn Chapel

"I visited Rosslyn Chapel, about 45 minutes from Edinburgh, and found it small but utterly amazing: founded in the mid-15th century by William Sinclair to celebrate Mass for departed family members, it was originally intended as a full Gothic cross-shaped cathedral but was scaled down after construction stopped, leaving the existing chapel at roughly 12 m tall and 21 m long. I'm captivated by the hundreds of intricate carvings and sculptures—pagan fertility figures (including the Green Man with vines), supposed Masonic imagery, upside-down devils, biblical reliefs, references to Norse mythology, the death mask of Robert the Bruce, and even a carving of American maize (corn) that has fueled speculation about pre-Columbian contact. The Sinclairs' historical support for the Knights Templar and the carved inscription "Knight Templar," plus a hidden chamber the family won't allow visitors into and excavations in the 1800s that revealed foundations stretching 30 m beyond the west end, have kept mystery and treasure theories alive—especially after The Da Vinci Code sent thousands of curious visitors. Regardless of conspiracies, I spent hours examining the reliefs; the surrounding grounds and nearby castle ruins are lovely for a stroll. Practical details from my visit: open daily 9:30–17:30 (18:00 in summer) except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year, with last entry 30 minutes before closing; admission £9 for adults, children free; six guided tours daily (three on Sundays); reachable by bus 37 or 40 from Edinburgh (45–60 minutes)." - Matthew Kepnes