Even if you have not read The Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn is the perfect place to unleash your inner quester. The carvings are an exquisite tease, always hovering on the edge of surrendering their ancient secrets. And if the Holy Grail eludes you, there is always the consolation of a nice cup of tea in the cafe.
other stops on the da vinci code trail
the novel opens with a murder and a coded corpse at the louvre in paris, and this is where the trail starts. retrace the characters’ steps to the paintings by leonardo da vinci, especially the mona lisa, which will never look the same again to those who’ve read the book. then head across town to the sober church of saint-sulpice. follow the thin brass strip that, in the novel, helps the albino monk uncover a secret chamber at the foot of an obelisk. be warned that staff take a dim view of grail hunters trying to find loose tiles in the floor. next stop is temple church, built by the knights templar in london in the 12th century and scene of a remarkable double-cross in the book. barristers from the nearby courts scuttle past, dressed in black robes and wigs, lending a rarefied air. the round nave is lined with effigies of knights carved in purbeck marble. a mile away stands westminster abbey, where the sinister teacher reveals his identity in the novel. its majestic, cavernous interior holds the remains of monarchs, statesmen, poets, musicians, and scientists. finally, join the other code fans studying the orb on the marble tomb of sir isaac newton.