Dunfermline Abbey is an active Church of Scotland parish church built on the site of one of the most important royal monasteries in medieval Scotland. Founded by Malcolm III in the 11th century, it was the burial place of Scottish kings and queens from Malcolm I to Robert the Bruce, and the building contains the tombs of at least seven Scottish monarchs and their consorts.
The medieval nave, which dates from the early 12th century and is Romanesque in character, is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland and is one of the finest examples of Norman ecclesiastical architecture in Scotland. The later parish church, rebuilt in the 19th century at the eastern end, incorporates the medieval choir beneath it and is still in regular use. The contrast between the soaring Norman nave and the more utilitarian Victorian parish church is striking. Free entry to the nave and grounds.