Category: In The Movies

  • Rosslyn Chapel

    This morning I decided to board one of the Scottish Borders buses in a different direction, towards Edinburgh. After about a one hour journey I got out near Roslin and walked towards the famous Rosslyn Chapel.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    Founded in the mid-15th century on a little hill by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness Rosslyn Chapel became even more famous after playing an important part in Dan Brown’s thriller “The DaVinci Code” and the movie with the same name. Is the Holy Grail really hidden at Rosslyn Chapel?

    Rosslyn Chapel is privately owned by Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn.

    Rosslyn Chapel 1

    After the Scottish Reformation (1560), Catholic worship in the chapel was brought to an end. The Sinclair family continued to be Catholics until the early 18th century. From that time, the chapel was closed to public worship until 1861. It was re-opened as a place of worship according to the rites of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a member church of the Anglican Communion. (Wikipedia)

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    Architecture

    The original plan was to built a cruciform but it was never completed, today we only see the “head” of the cross.

    Only the choir was constructed, with the retro-chapel, otherwise called the Lady chapel, built on the much earlier crypt (Lower Chapel) believed to form part of an earlier castle. The foundations of the unbuilt nave and transepts stretching to a distance of 90 feet were recorded in the 19th century. The decorative carving was executed over a forty-year period. After the founder’s death, construction of the planned nave and transepts was abandoned – either from lack of funds, lack of interest or a change in liturgical fashion. (Wikipedia)

    Rosslyn Chapel stands on fourteen pillars with the “Apprentice Pillar” as the most famous one. The stonework in the chapel is masterfully carved and the master mason had planned to carve this pillar himself. But when he arrived at Roslin his apprentice had already finished the pillar. The legend says that the mason was so jealous of the work that he killed the apprentice.

    The chapel and the crypt have been a burial place for generations of the Sinclairs, but the crypt had been sealed off for many years and the entrance to the crypt isn´t known any more.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    In 1842 the chapel, then in a ruined and overgrown state, was visited by Queen Victoria, who expressed a desire that it should be preserved. Restoration work was carried out in 1862 by David Bryce on behalf of James Alexander, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn. The chapel was re-dedicated on 22 April 1862, and from this time, Sunday services were once again held, now under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Episcopal Church, for the first time in 270 years. (Wikipedia)

    In 1995 the Rossyln Chapel Trust was established to oversee its conservation and its opening as a sightseeing destination. Between 1997 and 2013 the chapel was extensively renovated and restored including works on the roof, the windows, heating, the carvings and the organ.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci CodeVisiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    The Holy Grail at Rosslyn Chapel

    Speculations of a connection between Rosslyn Chapel and the Knights Templar started in the 1980s and went a little bit wild after Dan Brown’s thriller “The DaVinci Code” & the film of the same name with Tom Hanks in the leading role. Numerous books were published to prove Brown’s fictional theories that the Holy Grail might be stored at the chapel or that the chapel is an important part of the legend.

    Many Templar symbols are said to be found in the carvings and members of the Sinclair family were members of the Freemasons.

    Whatever the truth may be the legends helped to bring many visitors to Rosslyn Chapel.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    Rosslyn Chapel is a wonderful place to visit but also a quite busy one – don´t get fooled by the empty pictures, I was just very patient. I didn´t spend a lot of time inside the chapel, it was just too crowded! It is also forbidden to take pictures inside the chapel.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

    After my visit, I walked through Roslin back to my bus stop.

    Visiting the beautiful Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland, featured in Dan Browns thriller Da Vinci Code

     

     

  • Floors Castle

    Kelso Abbey in the town Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!

    Kelso

    Kelso is a market town in the Scottish Borders about 20 miles from Galashiels or an around 50 minutes bus trip through stunning countryside. Kelso lies on the confluence of the river Tweed and Teviot and is known for its large French-style market square, the largest market square in Scotland.

    In the 12th century, Kelso Abbey was founded and the town grew alongside with the arrival of the monks.

    Standing on the opposite bank of the River Tweed from the now-vanished royal burgh of Roxburgh, Kelso and its sister hamlet of Wester Kelso were linked to the burgh by a ferry at Wester Kelso. A small hamlet existed before the completion of the abbey in 1128 but the settlement started to flourish with the arrival of the monks. (Wikipedia)

    Kelso Abbey in the town Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!

    The Abbey controlled the life in Kelso, at one point there was even a beer-tax in favour of the parish. After the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, the power and the wealth of the Abbey declined.

    The Kerr family of Cessford took over the barony and many of the abbey’s properties around the town. By the 17th century, they virtually owned Kelso. (Wikipedia)

    Kelso Abbey in the town Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!

    Sir Walter Scott went to grammar school in Kelso and called “it is the most beautiful if not the most romantic village in Scotland”.

    Kelso Abbey in the town Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!

     

    Floors Castle

    I walked the Cobby Riverside Walk from Kelso Town Center to Floors Castle, it´s about 2 miles and a  lovely walk. Floors Castle is the largest inhabited castle in Scotland and is home to the 10th Duke of Roxburghe. But it´s more a big country house than a castle, situated within the two rivers, built in 1721 by William Adam, for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe. Before that, there was probably a tower house on the grounds. Opposite Floors Castle are the ruins of Roxburgh Castle, which was destroyed by the Scots in 1460.

    The magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his family

    The family of the current Duke of Roxburghe still lives in Floors Castle and opened some of the rooms for the public. It´s a beautiful walk through the park and the Victorian walled gardens, but I was a little bit disappointed by the inside. There are just a small handful of rooms able to visit and then you´re in the shop.

    But as said the park and gardens are stunning and well worth a visit. Like Abbotsford House Floors Castle is part of the Historic Houses and it would be smart to become a member when you want to visit more than one.

    The magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his familyThe magnificent Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish Borders, Scotland - the city with the biggest market square in Scotland!. Home of the Duke of Roxburghe and his family

  • Melrose

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Melrose Abbey

    A Scottish Border Bus (my ride for the next week) brought me from Abbotsford House to Melrose and it was just a short walk to Melrose Abbey, one of the jewels in the Scottish Borders.

    Founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks it was the chief house of the order until the Reformation. Today the monastery is partly ruined and under the care of the Historic Environment Scotland. Last year I used their Explorer Pass for visiting lots of places but this year I upgraded to the membership. It´s really worth it and gives you free entry to 70 places in Scotland! The others are either private (Historic Houses) or under the care of the National Trust for Scotland, I´ll be getting that membership next year.

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    The Cistercians were drawn to this fertile spot beside the River Tweed by its close associations with St Aidan and St Cuthbert. The monks came from Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, the Cistercians’ great northern English missionary base.

    Monastic life continued at Melrose for the next 450 years. The last monk, John Watson, died around 1590. The crumbling abbey church was used as a parish church until a new kirk was built nearby in 1810.

    (Historic Enviroment Scotland)

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Even so, just a small part of the abbey survived it´s been one of the most beautiful ones I´ve seen so far. And it´s fun to look out for the famous gargoyle of the pipe playing pig.

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomMelrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    It is believed that Robert the Bruce loved the abbey so much, that his heart was buried here. Today marked by a memorable stone saying “The heart of a brave man was buried here”.

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomMelrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    The monastery contained several houses and plots of land, the Commander’s house is a museum today and has a beautiful view of the abbey.

    At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Sir Walter Scott was appointed Sheriff-Depute of Roxburghshire. In 1822, with the financial assistance of the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir Walter supervised the extensive repair work that was to preserve the ruins. In 1918 the Duke gave the ruins to the state. (Wikipedia)

    Scott also described the abbey in a few of his poems.

    Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomThe Harmony Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Harmony garden

    Just a short walk from Melrose Abbey lies the Harmony Garden, a peaceful and stunning garden cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.

    The Harmony Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    The garden offers beautiful views of the abbey and the Eildon Hills…

    As its name suggests, at Harmony Garden nature is perfectly in tune. Step out of normal life and into somewhere more colourful, relaxing and balanced.

    Manicured lawns, scented borders and fruit and vegetable beds spread out from a beautifully proportioned Georgian manor house – available as holiday accommodation. (nts.org.uk)

    The Harmony Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomThe Harmony Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomThe Harmony Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Priorwood garden

    Another beautiful and very calming garden lies on the other side of the abbey: Priorwood Garden, a former house garden of a manor house and a communal garden during WWII.

    Priorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomPriorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Priorwood garden has three different sections, a woodland area, a garden dedicated to dried flowers and the orchard.

    With wonderfully framed views across to the abbey, the orchard cultivates many historical apple varieties, as well as plums, pears, damsons and greengages. (nts.org.uk)

    There were plans to transform the garden into a big parking space for visitors but luckily the National Trust for Scotland was able to buy and conserve it.

    Priorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomPriorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

    MELROSE

    After visiting the abbey, the gardens and having a walk along River Tweed it´s time for a little break in one of the tea rooms or cafés in Melrose. There is a wide variety of lovely little shops along the main road and also lots of places for a cup of tea or coffee.

    Priorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomPriorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United KingdomPriorwood Garden next to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom