St Andrews Cathedral, Saint Andrews, Medieval cathedral ruins in St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews Cathedral is a medieval ruin in the coastal town of St Andrews, Scotland, with remaining walls and arches spread across roughly 119 meters. The grounds include a graveyard, foundations of earlier buildings, and a museum housing preserved sculptures and stonework.
The foundation took place in 1158 as a religious center that played a central role in medieval Scotland for over four centuries. The Reformation in 1559 led to destruction by Protestant supporters, and the site was later abandoned.
The Pictish sarcophagus displays detailed animal figures and geometric patterns that offer insight into life before the medieval period. Visitors can examine the surviving stonework on the arches, where the original Gothic and Romanesque construction remains visible.
The grounds are accessible daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM between April and September, with shorter hours during winter. Access to the graveyard is free, while the museum and tower require admission.
The tower staircase of St Rule contains 156 narrow steps that spiral upward and offer a view over the Fife coast. The tower predates the construction of the main building and is one of the few almost fully preserved parts of the site.
Location: Fife
Location: St Andrews
Location: Scotland
Inception: 1158
Architectural style: Gothic architecture, Romanesque architecture
GPS coordinates: 56.34003,-2.78775
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23
Scotland offers visitors a wide range of historical sites and natural landscapes. This collection moves through castles that have watched over towns and valleys for centuries, through moorlands and mountains in the Highlands, along lochs, and to coastlines where the sea meets rock. It also includes museums, gardens, and places connected to the country's past. Among the sites are Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, two fortresses that rise above their cities. Loch Ness draws people who want to see the water and the hills around it. Eilean Donan Castle sits on a small island, surrounded by water and peaks. The Isle of Skye presents rough terrain such as the Cuillin Hills. Glen Coe is a valley enclosed by steep slopes. In Glasgow, the cathedral and Kelvingrove Art Gallery invite exploration. The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh provides calm within the city. The collection also takes in engineering works like the Falkirk Wheel and the Forth Bridge, and remote spots such as Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and Luskentyre Beach (about 1 mile or 1.6 kilometers long).
Scotland offers photographers a wide range of landscapes and historical sites. This collection includes coastal formations like Bow Fiddle Rock and Sandwood Bay, medieval fortresses such as Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, and mountains and glens like Glencoe and the Cairngorms. On the Isle of Skye you can find the Fairy Pools and Neist Point Lighthouse, while Glenfinnan Viaduct is known for its stone arches. Within Edinburgh itself are Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, Calton Hill with its monuments, and Dean Village, an old milling settlement by the water. The Kelpies near Falkirk are modern steel horse sculptures. Loch Ness stretches through the Highlands, and Eilean Donan Castle sits on a small island on the west coast. Along the shoreline are ruins like Dunnottar Castle on a rocky headland and Tantallon Castle overlooking the sea. Smaller places like Culross and Pittenweem show traditional architecture and harbors. The Clava Cairns are prehistoric burial sites near Inverness. On the northern coast is Smoo Cave, a cavern partly carved by the sea. Each location has its own light conditions and changes appearance with the seasons, from long summer evenings to low winter sun.
St Andrews Sarcophagus
72 m
Deans Court
114 m
St Andrews, Kirk Hill, St Mary's Church
164 m
St Andrews, 1 South Street, The Roundel
105 m
St Andrews, 3 South Street
115 m
St Andrews, Shorehead, Kirkheugh Cottage
203 m
St Rule's Church and St Rule's Tower
83 m
St Andrews Cathedral, Graveyard
64 m
St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum
170 m
St Andrews, North Street, War Memorial
73 m
St Andrews, 7-9 South Street
142 m
Old Castle Tavern, 22 North Street, St Andrews
189 m
St Andrews, St Leonard's School, Oliphant Memorial Dial
150 m
1-8 St Gregory's, East Scores, St Andrews
103 m
1 Gregory Place, St Andrews
96 m
St Andrews, South Street, The Pends
99 m
2 Gregory Place, St Andrews
91 m
St Andrews, 15 South Street
167 m
St Andrews, 14 South Street
178 m
St Andrews, 20 North Street
181 m
St Andrews, 23 South Street
196 m
St Andrews, 17 South Street
175 m
St Andrews Cathedral, St Andrews Priory, Guest Hall
115 m
St Andrews, 19 South Street
190 m
St Andrews, New Inns Gate
115 m
St Andrews, 10 South Street
161 m
St Andrews, 11-13 South Street
155 m
St Andrews, 5 South Street
128 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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