Falkland Palace is a Renaissance masterpiece built in the 16th century, it was a favorite country retreat for the Stuart monarchs, including James V and Mary, Queen of Scots. Notable for its architecture, including the ornate Chapel Royal and the King’s and Queen’s Rooms, preserved with period furnishings.
During the World War II, the Polish paratroopers used the Falkland Estate for training, including a shooting range and practice trenches above Back Dykes Terrace. On 15 November 1942, a swearing-in ceremony for the battalion took place in the courtyard of Falkland Palace, where Mrs. James Jackson of the Falkland Women’s Voluntary Service presented the troops with flags, symbolizing the bond between the Polish soldiers and the local community. The Polish paratroopers, regularly attended Mass in the Chapel Royal at Falkland Palace on Sundays. Their chaplain, Father Hubert Misiuda, the first Polish army chaplain to complete a parachute course, led these services. As a gesture of gratitude for the hospitality shown by the people of Falkland, the 3rd Polish Parachute Battalion gifted an icon of Our Lady of Ostrobrama (a revered Catholic image from Vilnius) to the Palace’s Chapel Royal. This icon remains in the chapel’s sacristy, a lasting symbol of Polish-Scottish friendship.