Dan Brown

Roslin, 18th August 2017 - Our UK-tour ends and we finish in beauty and blessing. South of Edinburgh we visit Rosslyn Chapel, built in 1446. This iconic place - Scotland is full of iconic places - was built by the Earl of Sinclair and attracts many tourists, who know it from The Da Vinci Code movie, based on Dan Brown's novel. I admit I never read the book, nor did I see the movie. I must say it is nice and cosy inside, but the gothic masterpieces in my hometown are much more impressive. As with all iconic places, you need imagination to appreciate it. The speculation about the connection between the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail and freemasonry for example. The guide mentions to look out for ‘two riders on a single horse’, a Templar symbol. After her speech, I try to find it but I cannot. The chapel is private property and belongs to the Earl of Rosslyn. His main task is conservation of the fragile building, hammered centuries by Scottish wind, rain and mistreatment, like when Cromwell used it as a horse stable when attacking Rosslyn Castle. Religion and warfare go hand in hand. 

Rosslyn Chapel before the guide said I was not allowed to take pictures (FDC)

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