Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland
The whole value of solitude depends upon oneself; it may be a sanctuary or a prison . . . a heaven or a hell as we ourselves make it.
—John Lubbock (1834–1913), English biologist and politician
On a hill above Roslin Glen stands a somber fifteenth-century church, the Collegiate Chapel of Saint Matthew. Rosslyn Chapel, as it is commonly known, was intended as a sanctuary where the church’s founder, William Saint Clair, could say Divine Office and restore his soul. That makes the chapel’s unusual interior all the more so, for the walls are covered with a strange assortment of ornate carvings, including images of knights, Lucifer, corn (unknown to Europe at that time), and the Green Man, a pagan deity. Famous for its alleged connections with the Knights Templar and the Freemasons, the chapel remains shrouded in mystery. Neither the chapel’s riotous carvings nor its dark mysteries disturbed Saint Clair, who relished his sanctuary until his death in 1484.
Whether you wish to find a place of solace or to see this curious sanctuary, you can visit Rosslyn Chapel, south of Roslin. From Edinburgh Airport, travel by bus, rail, taxi, or rental car. No photography or video is allowed inside the chapel.
Tour the chapel, making note of images that comfort and unsettle you. Later, use those impressions to create your own sanctuary.
Rosslyn Chapel has fueled the imaginations of many artists and writers, including Dan Brown, in whose novel The Da Vinci Code the chapel figures largely.