Travel plan idea blog

On the Trail of the Da Vinci Code

First there was the book, and now the movie. The phenomenal success of Dan Brown’s hugely popular book has meant an increased number of visitors to the places mentioned in the book. Visitors come in search of secret codes, conspiracy theories and possibly the final resting place of the legendary Holy Grail itself.

Much of the action in the movie (and the book) takes place in Paris, London and Scotland. One of the most famous art museums in the world, the Louvre plays an important part in the book, when a corpse is discovered in one of the museum’s many galleries. Before the victim has breathed his last, he somehow has time to leave a series of clues pertaining to the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, and ultimately proving the existence of perhaps the biggest conspiracy in history.

I remember visiting the Louvre many years ago when I first went to Paris and trailing around endless corridors to find the Mona Lisa. Not because I particularly wanted to see it – I just felt I couldn’t go to the Louvre without seeing the most famous painting in the world! The Mona Lisa aside, the museum is so huge it would take weeks to do justice to it. The best way to approach the Louvre is to decide what interests you – Egyptian, Renaissance, or Oriental art, etc - and concentrate on that. You can always go back there.

In London, two sites that play a prominent role in the Da Vinci Code are Westminster Abbey and the Temple Church. Westminster Abbey needs little introduction as it is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions and can be crowded, especially at weekends and holidays.

Temple Church is a fascinating place, tucked away in a maze of alleyways and courtyards that comprise London’s legal quarter. The church dates from the 12th century and was built by the Knights Templar who feature in the movie. One of the highlights of the church is the series of life-size stone effigies of nine knights.

The Da Vinci Code has its exciting climax at the historic Rosslyn Chapel just outside Edinburgh, Scotland (link) another must-see site for Grail seekers and conspiracy theorists. Rosslyn Chapel dates from the 15th century and is famous for its mysterious carvings – the stone arched roof is decorated with various symbols such as five pointed stars, squares and flowers.

The other famous feature of the chapel is the ornately carved column known as the “apprentice pillar”. Legend has it that the Grail lies hidden in a secret chamber under the chapel floor or in the apprentice pillar itself – a theory yet to be proven.

Posted by Martin at June 16, 2006 9:02 PM