John Knox's Grave

The final resting place of one of Scotland’s most prolific and influential religious figures hides in the shadow of Edinburgh’s iconic Saint Giles Cathedral. You won’t find any ornate tombs or markers denoting the spot. In fact, the only thing you’ll likely see on top of the grave is someone’s car.

It’s said that Knox wanted to be buried within 20 feet of Saint Giles, so he was laid to rest right outside the church in what was once a proper graveyard. However, the site has since been tarmacked over and is now a functioning parking lot. A plaque in parking space number 23 marks the approximate location of his now-lost grave.

Knox was a 16th-century preacher who commanded that his people be able to read the Bible in their own language. He was a key figure in turning a nation of Catholics into one of Protestants. His fire and brimstone sermons and teachings often put him at odds with the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots.