Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland

A Premier Tourist Attraction 

When I was in Scotland recently attending a conference, a colleague from the Scottish Tourist Board told me that they are expecting Rosslyn Chapel to be one of the top tourist attractions because of the best selling novel “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown.

I had never been to the chapel, so she offered to take me. We drove in a snowstorm out to Borthwick Castle, a popular destination for tourists about 45 minutes from Glasgow airport. The ancestral home of Clan Galbraith dates back to the 14th century with spectacular highland views and accommodations in a castle that could be straight out of a fairy tale.

We had coffee with the owner of Borthwick before leaving for the chapel. We borrowed a key from the caretaker in the village and went to see Borthwick Chapel, a lovely little church with hundreds of years of history in its graveyard.

Rosslyn Chapel, often called the Cathedral of Codes, was built in 1446 by the Knights Templar and is engraved with a mind-boggling array of symbols from the Jewish, Christian, Egyptian, Masonic and pagan traditions.  

It is a rare architectural gem, constructed with exquisitely carved stone. Each carving is interconnected and sits in its rightful position as if it were a note in a silent symphony.

What few people realize is that Rosslyn Chapel was built on the Rose Line, one of the most significant ley lines running north-south through Western Europe. I had a good chuckle at the carvings of angels playing bagpipes.

The chapel is located on an intricate design of sacred geometry that reaches far beyond the confines of the rolling hills that surround the chapel on College Hill.  The Rose Line, a mystical geographic alignment, traverses Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh before reaching Rosslyn Chapel.  

The scenery around the chapel nestled in the Pentland Hills is lovely. The land is owned by the Clan Sinclair, or St.Clair, a Norwegian family that settled at Rosslyn Castle after a long sojourn in Normandy.

I was amazed at the crowd of tourists gathered at the chapel, even in the heavy snowstorm. The weather was dreadful and it was early morning, yet the chapel was filled with tour groups accompanied by guides. My first thought was, “This place will be mobbed in summer, with nowhere to park.”

Having read “The Da Vinci Code,” which I found fascinating, I appreciated the well laid out signs within the chapel, guiding the visitor and providing information about the different symbols mentioned in the book.  

Visitors to Scotland can take a tour of the chapel from Edinburgh, which picks them up from their hotel. I recommend taking a tour because you get the benefits of a historian’s expertise along with an explanation of the layout of the chapel and its history.  

I enjoyed my visit to Rosslyn Chapel and recommend reading the novel. I went on to the Shetland Islands, another story in itself. Sixteen hours by ferry from Aberdeen and only two hours by ferry from Norway.   I always enjoy going home to Scotland. This was my 105th visit since moving to California.

Slainte Mbath (Best Regards),

Maureen Jones, Scotsmaster

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.