Rosslyn Chapel: A Step Back in Time

One of the gargoyles protecting the chapel. 

Just a few miles outside the bustling city of Edinburgh is a little village called Roslin. Within the village is Rosslyn Chapel. If it sounds familiar, it's likely because you recall the famous site from Dan Brown's book Da Vinci Code. Having read it myself, excitement kicked in as we drove closer to our destination. It was my chance to experience a bit of history that had felt so real through Robert Langdon's eyes. 

I spent the first ten or fifteen minutes walking around the building and just taking it in. People passed me by, posing for photographs or rushing to enter the building. In comparison to other architectural works I've seen, it is average in size, but there was just something about it that made me want to take my time. I felt like a panther on a slow prowl around the periphery.  It was an unusually warm day here and the sun shone bright, emphasizing the green grass, the blue skies and the browns of the chapel. I gazed at the pillars, the gargoyles, the carvings bordering the windows. Every inch of the place seemed to have a story behind it.  It was like I was back in another time -long, long ago.

Once inside, I was mesmerized by even more intricate carvings and the rich colors of stained glass windows. I walked around in a sort of trance, from pillar to pillar, taking in the history and beauty of it all. At some point, I found myself in front of the famous Apprentice Pillar. Legend has it that the master mason had left to seek out the original inspiration for the column, but when he had returned, his apprentice had completed the column. In a fit of jealous rage, he struck the apprentice dead. It is said that as punishment, the master mason's face is carved facing the apprentice's pillar so he would be forced to stare at his work for all eternity. Ah, that treacherous ego! 

We were only at Rosslyn for about an hour or so, but the hundreds of detailed symbols and scenes are enough to keep one occupied all day. This was just the first of the iconic buildings in Scotland on this trip; I can't wait to see more! Next up: Melrose Abbey. 

Unfortunately, they've stopped allowing photography on the inside of the chapel so I had to sneak this shot by zooming in from the outside.

Aside for its architectural beauty,  Rosslyn Chapel is also famous for its association with the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. According to some, the Grail was buried beneath the Rosslyn Chapel.