Whether Rosslyn Chapel is the resting place of the Holy Grail - assuming that the Grail exists -- is anyone's guess but there are things in the Da Vinci Code which, while they increase the popularity of Rosslyn, they overshadow its historical and architectural importance.

The Truth About Rosslyn Chapel Claims in The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown claims that "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" which in the case of the chapel in Roslin, could not be further than the truth.In the Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel is said to be often called "the Cathedral of Codes" and that "The Knights Templar had designed Rosslyn Chapel as an exact architectural blueprint of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem". Rosslyn Chapel is, in fact, built upon a blueprint of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh which follows the common architectural style and structure for churches in those days.

Dan Brown also mentions in the Da Vinci Code the "presence of an astonishing structure beneath the chapel - a massive subterranean chamber". Rosslyn Chapel does have a sacristy on the east side that is accessible to visitors via steps. While a grave slab of a Knight Templar can be found in the sacristy, apparently strengthening the chapel's links to the Templars, few tourists know that it was actually brought there from Old Pentland kirkyard, a few miles away.

Dan Brown also claims that the "The Star of David" is engraved on the chapel floor but none of the old engravings of the chapel show it to exist. Today, the entire floor of the chapel's choir is covered by a red covering.Fundation stone was laid on St. Matthew's Day, 21st September 1446. The orientation is due East and West, marked out by the solar ray, according to the ancient tradition. A geometrical figure is usually used to regulate the proportions, and a double equilateral triangle is used in Rosslyn.Unfortunately the original plans for Rosslyn have never been found or recorded, so it is open to speculation whether or not the chapel was intended to be built in its current layout.

The fact the foundations for a much larger nave were excavated in the nineteenth century and can be seen today suggest grander plans were made for the chapel at its inauguration. The chapel as seen now is therefore what would have been the choir as the larger nave was never built. However as it stands today Rosslyn's asymmetry is just one of the many unique architectural features.  

The Da Vinci Code does omit Rosslyn Chapel justice by mentioning the astonishing array of sculptures and symbols to be found all over this Roslin attraction. Whether you believe in the Da Vinci Code book or not, don't let the novel detract from the chapel's real significance - Rosslyn Chapel is a gem, a stone puzzle like no other to be found anywhere in the world.

Rosslyn and Her Chapel
The Da Vinci Code trail beckons you to Roslin, just south of Edinburgh, an area of great significance in Scottish history. This astonishing city, steeped in history and tradition, has seen many great battles and was once an important stronghold for the Scottish border. Roslyn means 'point of the waterfall' in Scottish Gaelic according to some, or 'ancient knowledge down the line' according to others.

Centuries of history changed its name into Roslin and is the home of Rosslyn Chapel -- not Roslyn Chapel -- and Rosslyn Castle.Head to Rosslyn Chapel, symbolically located at the summit of Ross Hill, you'll feel its magic as soon as you enter.Dating back over 500 years, the Chapel features Scotland's finest examples of medieval stonework and has been described as a 'Tapestry in Stone'. The Apprentice Pillar - of notable excellence - takes pride of place in the tiny chapel and holds mythical secrets of its own.  

While Rosslyn Chapel is known for its historical and architectural merits, Roslin is even more famous for its cutting edge biological science. The Roslin institute is where Dolly the Sheep was born in 1996 marking a breakthrough in the science of cloning.Previously popular mainly to tourists interested in architecture, history and religion, after being used in the Da Vinci Code as the setting for the novel's plot climax, Rosslyn Chapel has achieved worldwide fame and now attracts massive attention and visitor numbers. And all tourists come to Rosslyn for one thing, to find the Holy Grail as part of their Da Vinci Code tour.

Is Rosslyn The Way to The Grail?
Rosslyn Chapel has been a place where people have sought to find secrets for hundreds of years amid the strange engravings and mystic symbols that cover almost every archway with numeric precision. People gather in droves looking for inspiration amid the stone and stained glass windows. For hundreds of years people have waited in this chapel expectantly but up until the Da Vinci Code became a blockbuster hit in screens around the world nothing had been revealed.

Now the film has shone a spotlight on the chapel and flocks gather waiting again. Will the weight of expectation produce anything to remark upon or will the masses be disappointed once again when nothing fails to materialise? Do you have an opinion on the religious significance of the chapel or an opinion on what drives people to flock to symbols in this way?

Rosslyn Hit By Grail Diggers
FANS of The Da Vinci Code have been trying to dig their way into Rosslyn Chapel's ancient vaults to find the Holy Grail. Visitor numbers at the Midlothian church have soared by 72 per cent since 2004 on the back of the success of Dan Brown's novel, which draws on theories linking the chapel with the holy relic. A film version of The Da Vinci Code wasrocketed to the top of cinema listings world wide. Iain Grimstone, Rosslyn's visitor services manager, told visitors to the church recently: "We have had them inside the chapel trying to get into the vaults. "There are people who think the Holy Grail is hidden underneath Rosslyn." He added: "We've also caught them trying to dig their way in from outside."

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