The roofless ruins of St Andrews Cathedral cover a windswept headland at the eastern end of the town. The cathedral was consecrated in 1318 and was the largest and most important church in medieval Scotland — site of pilgrimage to the relics of the apostle Andrew, brought (according to legend) by the monk St Rule. The Reformation of 1559 left the building stripped and gradually abandoned; for several centuries the locals helped themselves to dressed stone for their houses.
Today the west gable, the east transept, and parts of the precinct walls survive at full height. The square Romanesque tower of St Rule — older than the cathedral itself, built around 1120 — stands intact in the precinct; you can climb its 156 steps for the best panoramic view of the town and the North Sea. The graveyard contains the tomb of Old Tom Morris, the four-time Open champion. Entry is via the visitor centre. Open year-round.