Romantic Ruin for Valentine's Day!

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OK, so I'm a day late with my Valentine posting (so many chocolate hearts to munch my way through!) but I think you'll agree that this must be one of the most aptly named places to visit on the 14th February! It's Sweetheart Abbey in Dumfries, Scotland.

Sweetheart Abbey, or Dulce Cor, as the monks referred to it, was founded in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla in memory of her husband John Balliol who had died in 1268. So devoted was she to her late spouse that she carried his embalmed heart around with her in an ivory and silver casket. After her death she was buried in the abbey church with her husband's heart buried beside her. Some might find this gruesome, others an enduring tribute to the power of love!

There's more about Sweetheart Abbey on the Undiscovered Scotland site.

Comments

Jan Jones said…
Nice photo, lovely name, just slightly unbalanced behaviour...
15 February 2010 at 13:02
Heather Snow said…
I'm in the gruesome camp. Still, love...it makes us do crazy things sometimes.

Thanks for the story and pictures!
16 February 2010 at 14:30
Nicola Cornick said…
Yes, it's a bit on the obsessive side, isn't it!
16 February 2010 at 15:44
Traxy said…
We spent our honeymoon just outside Lockerbie and went around the Dumfries and Galloway area. Don't think we came across this one, though. Err... not that we actually went around seeing ANY old ruins deliberately, which we should've done. Instead, we went to a wildlife park, a gem rock museum and an ice-cream manufacturer. Oh well, guess we'll just have to go back and do it properly next time!

Fascinating story. Thanks for sharing! :)
25 February 2010 at 12:02
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