Culross Abbey

Culross Abbey is a Cistercian monastery set on a steep hillside with a cross-shaped layout featuring remaining walls, Gothic windows, and a preserved choir section. The stone structures show how monks organized their living spaces, with passages and chambers still visible in the partially standing ruins.

Malcolm I, Earl of Fife, founded the monastery in 1217 by bringing monks from Kinloss Abbey to establish the community. Several centuries later, the Bruce family adapted parts of the complex for their own burial and memorial purposes.

The abbey's gardens and burial stones reveal how this place held deep meaning for Fife's ruling families, particularly the Bruces. Visitors can observe how they embedded themselves into the community through architecture and monuments.

The east section remains an active parish church, while the rest of the site can be freely explored to see the remains. The slope of the hillside means you should wear proper footwear for uneven terrain.

In 1642, Sir George Bruce converted the north transept into a family tomb and placed alabaster effigies of his family members inside. These carefully carved figures remain visible today and stand out distinctly from the medieval stonework around them.