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Whithorn Priory and Museum reopens

Whithorn Priory and Museum has opened its doors to the public again. It is one of many historic sites in Scotland that are returning to life after long closures caused by COVID-19.

The priory, which is famously aligned to St. Ninian and was a destination for pilgrims from across Europe, was built in the 1100s for Premonstratensian monks and was the cathedral church of Galloway. Visitors can still follow the route taken by medieval pilgrims to visit St Ninian’s shrine at the east end of the church. The museum is home to a number of rare collections including the Latinus Stone – Scotland’s earliest Christian monument. Visitors can also view the remarkable remnants of the early church for a glimpse of the lavish decoration that once adorned the great cathedral.

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“We are pleased to have even more of our sites reopening up and down the country including Whithorn Priory, providing visitors with the opportunity to enjoy much loved heritage attractions once again,” says Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland (HES). “With over 5,000 years of history in our care, we’ve adopted a phased approach to reopening, providing as diverse a mix of attractions as possible, as well as reviewing and implementing the individual reopening requirements of each site, in line with Scottish Government guidance. We are now looking forward to welcoming visitors back to even more sites, providing further opportunity to enjoy Scotland’s diverse and globally renowned historic environment.”

To guarantee entry, tickets should be booked online in advance and are now on sale.

Top Image: Photo by Roger Ward / Flickr

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