Rosslyn Chapel
 
and the Da Vinci Code

Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh has long been the focus of legends connected with the Holy Grail.

They have gained new currency with the success of Dan Brown's best-selling book The Da Vinci Code. Given the The Da Vinci Code's subject matter, it's no surprise that the beautiful and highly ornate 15th-century chapel features in it. It has long been the subject of much theorising and conjecture about its origins and the meanings of its famous stone carvings.

Many of these are amongst the best of their kind in Europe, with many depicting symbols relating to Old Testament texts and characters, the mysterious medieval order of the Knights Templar and to Freemasonry. Incredibly, some carvings even seem to show American plants such as maize and aloe vera, carved fifty years before Columbus's voyages, while others have thus far defied interpretation.

The chapel as a historic site is run by a Trust, but it remains home to a congregation of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Rosslyn Chapel Trust
Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Midlothian,
Scotland, UK, EH25 9PU.
Tel: +44 (0)131 440 2159
Fax: +44 (0)131 440 1979

website: www.rosslynchapel.com

How to get to the Chapel By Road from the Edinburgh bypass: take "Straiton Junction" A701 to Penicuik/Peebles. Follow A701 to sign for Roslin (3 miles) once in Roslin Village the Chapel is signed.

By Air to Edinburgh or Glasgow International: Edinburgh is 30 miles from Glasgow (45 from Airport) Take M8 to Edinburgh Trains from Queen Street (Glasgow) run every 30 minutes and take 50 minutes travel time.

By Rail to the Edinburgh Waverley Station will take 4hrs from London. Roslin is 6 miles south of Edinburgh's Princes Street.

By Bus        Lothian Buses service 15 (not15A)