The best museums Scotland

This museum is the most famous in the city, and probably the most fascinating in Scotland, along with the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Inaugurated in 1901, it was reopened in 2006 by Queen Elizabeth after three years of renovations. Its breathtaking Baroque style is just a foretaste of all it has to offer: inside, 22 thematic galleries contain 8,000 objects of Art and History. The central piece is undoubtedly The Christ of St. John of the Cross, painted by Salvador Dali in 1951, but we should also mention the section on Mackintosh and the local style, which features furniture and decorative elements from local designers. The panoply of medieval armour will delight young and old alike and some of them date from the 15th century. In the Dutch Gallery you will see paintings from the Dutch and Flemish schools, represented by Rembrandt and Gérard de Lairesse among others. In the French Gallery, one can contemplate impressionists such as Monet, Renoir and Pissarro, but also Van Gogh and Mary Cassatt. Two wings are dedicated to the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists. Temporary exhibitions are also often held there (most of the time for a fee). In recent years, attention has been focused on 19th century costumes, the emergence of Glasgow from 1714 to 1837, the contemporary artist Jack Vettriano, football in Scotland, Italian art, and the pharaohs. Good to know: free guided tours are offered every day.

It was on board the gigantic three-masted ship named RRS Discovery that Captain Robert Falcon Scott went to discover the South Pole in 1901. The mastodon was built in Dundee and was then the first ship to be equipped with 1,800 horsepower in a triple-explosion engine to split the Antarctic ice. Now you can discover her and her crew's exciting adventure at Discovery Point, on the city's docks, and visit the ship from top to bottom. The museum area reveals all the secrets of this great human adventure.

This colourful house in the Royal Mile is unmistakable with its red and ochre facade. A visit to Scotland's capital city only takes on more meaning once you open the doors. Edinburgh's past is revealed here from prehistoric times to the present day, through models, descriptions, mannequins and objects of yesteryear. We discover the capital in all its facets: a city of art, culture and ideas, power, trade, contrasts, pomp, history and stories. We can understand the dark hours of the city, between politics, religion, war and alcohol issues; but also its pride: its prosperity, its architecture and its great figures. Lovers of history and rare objects will also appreciate the medieval relics, the numerous porcelains, the beautifully chiselled silverware - including specifically Scottish pieces such as a quaich or thistle-cups -, the pottery with their reconstructed workshop, or the original manifesto of the Covenantaires. Each district is detailed, from Old Town, where Canongate formed a separate village, to New Town, where the original plans of architect James Craig can be seen. An important section is devoted to the port of Leith, a veritable highway of the colonies and the Orient. Petit Futé 's "coup de coeur" goes to the curiosity cabinet, a reminder that fan devotions are not just for pop stars. Amongst other things, we discover a piece of oatcake cooked by Robert Burns' wife, a golf ball that once belonged to Robert Louis Stevenson...

Opened in its current form in 2006 by merging older collections, the National Museum of Scotland houses 16 galleries, 8,000 objects and a complex whose architecture is both Victorian and ultra-modern. Here, as in any general museum, you will find the traditional sections devoted to anthropology, world cultures through time and natural history: Egyptian priest's sarcophagus and mummy, Assyrian mural fresco, dinosaur skeleton and stuffed animals, a few sculptures, paintings and many others... Science and technology also have a voice with the oldest colour television on the planet and the body of Dolly the Sheep.

The most fascinating part of the tour is undoubtedly the one that presents in an exciting way the whole history of Scotland, from its origins to the present day. The visitor's aesthetic pleasure and imaginary escapades into the past are encouraged by the scenography of the plays and their didactic approach. With many treasures of national heritage, one travels alongside the country's first inhabitants, the Picts, the Vikings, the Scots, many anonymous people, but also Scottish heroes, such as Mary Stuart, whose superb harp and a replica of the tomb can be discovered; Robert Burns, a renowned poet, whose handwritten letters can be read; and Bonnie Prince Charlie, the accursed prince of the Stuart cause, whose travel silver can be admired.

This is a great place to discover whisky. Several tours are available, in 50 min, 90 min and 90 min + dinner. In addition to the guided tour, there are one or more commented tastings. You will learn to savour and identify the contents of your dram, the traditional whisky unit, in a room housing the world's largest private collection. No less than 3,400 different bottles are pampered there and it is a delight to walk through it to contemplate its old labels.

People have been coming here since 1835 to admire Edinburgh through the lorgnette of a periscope whose panoramas are projected onto a large table-screen. This visit is particularly popular with children, who appreciate the fun aspect. On six floors, a maze of attractions and exhibitions also provides a whole world of optical illusions and curiosities based on sounds, lights, mirrors and tunnels, for fans of the genre. At the top, the Outlook Tower also offers beautiful views of the surrounding area, including the castle, which is just across the street.

The Museum of the famous Scottish University is dedicated to the prestigious institution and its powerful heritage. There are three areas to visit: Wardlaw Museum (exhibition on the history of the university), Bell Pettigrew (natural sciences) and the Collection Centre where many valuable objects accumulated over the centuries are on display, such as 15th century ceremonial sceptres, a 16th century astrolabe, an 18th century telescope and many others.

This elegant castle on the other side of Stornoway Bay was built between 1847 and 1857 for Sir James Matheson, who then owned all of Lewis thanks to his fortune built on the Chinese opium trade. Since 2016, following an extension of the site, there is a museum on the history and culture of the Outer Hebrides. It describes its people and their relationship to the land and sea. The Gaelic approach is predominant, but the texts are also translated into English.

This lighthouse museum at Kinnaird Head will capture the hearts of lighthouse lovers and absolute neophytes alike. This is Scotland's first lighthouse (built in 1789) and is adjacent to a 450 year old castle. Its location in an exceptional and atypical place, the special life of the keepers whose history has been told here, the engineering developed to save lives, the largest collection of lenses in the world, the tea room in the lighthouse, all play in its favour...

This is the National Aviation Museum in Scotland. It takes place on the former Royal Air Force base in East Fortune. The location is not insignificant, as it was in service for both World Wars and is one of the best preserved in the whole of the United Kingdom. The story of the conquest of the sky is told in the presence of its main witnesses, aircraft of all types and all periods. Several hangars focus on different aspects of the industry with, among others, the famous Spitfire, Meteor, Tornado and Jaguar for the military side; and the Twin Pioneer, Jetstream 31 or Boeing 707 for the civil side. A whole section is also reserved for the famous Concorde, the unfortunate plane of Europe. The museum also explains the mechanisms of flight, construction techniques, the invention of parachutes, and many others. You will also be able to play the role of a jet-setter by discovering the planes in which the stars flew when commercial flights first saw the light of day. Children (and adults alike!) will appreciate the very concrete aspect of the museum, but also its interactive terminals, which invite them to better understand how planes fly, the skills of the pilots, the art of a successful landing... You can even learn how to build an airplane in your house! It's a good opportunity to visit something that is a little different from the heritage of the region and allows you to set foot in a real cockpit.

The V&A Dundee finally opened its doors on September 15, 2018. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kum, the building blends seamlessly into the cityscape and is not unlike the cliffs of the East End. The museum showcases the best of Scottish design, from fashion to furniture to architecture, in its diverse "Scottish design" gallery. It includes a reproduction of a room designed by the interior designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Temporary exhibitions complete the offer and the space.

It is one of the must-see visits for lovers of religion and ancient books. In addition to the history of the house and its famous inhabitants - James Mosmann, royal jeweller, who made the Scottish crown; John Knox, father of the Scottish religion and key figure in history - it tells the story of the Humanities and first impressions. There is a collection of books by great humanists, a bible from 1521 and John Knox's History of the Reformation within the Realme of Scotland. The place also hosts the Scottish Storytelling Association.

This magnificent fortress-like building was built as a prison in 1823, on the site of an old castle destroyed in 1409. Prisoners lived here until it was closed in 1868. Here you can learn about prison life in the 19th century and the history of the convicts who had to endure it. Some claimed that it was the most comfortable penitentiary in Scotland... In its centre, the small historical museum tells the story of the town's past, its people and its traditions.

Moat Brae is the birthplace of Peter Pan... We'd like to write that all is said and done! Opened in 2019, it is the national centre for children's literature and children's stories: a place where imagination is the queen of virtues, where creativity and play are at the heart of everything. The place celebrates Peter Pan and his creator, J.M. Barrie. You will explore Neverland's garden with its pirate ship and Mermaid Lagoon, see the Tinkerbell fairy who inspired the fairy tale. Animations and exhibitions are regularly organised.

Opened in 1960, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art is the temple of modern and contemporary art in Scotland. It consists of two buildings along Belford Road. Information is available in French and also adapted to families, with activities, installations and workshops designed specifically to introduce young audiences to art. The most "hip" or "connected" will download the dedicated free application: Smartify. By scanning the work, you will read a lot of additional information about the artist, the context of creation...

In Modern One, all the big names from the end of the 19th century to the present day are present: Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Damien Hirst, Douglas Gordon, Anthony Gormley and Bill Viola. The whole on two floors and 22 rooms, with a shop and a small but very popular café.

The Modern Two is dedicated to the surrealists with René Magritte, Salvador Dali or Alberto Giacometti. Another room houses a reproduction of Eduardo Paolozzi's studio and one can admire his famous Vulcan sculpture of more than 7 metres. It is also here that the temporary exhibitions (sometimes paying exhibitions, online programming) can be found, as well as a library and a second café.

The gardens between the two galleries are themselves the work of Charles Jenks and host the works of sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread and Nathan Coley.

7 km east of Dundee, in the Broughty Ferry district, is this 16th century tower that dominates the surroundings. It was built to guard the entrance to the Tay River and now houses an exhibition on the local history and that of its people, as well as the flora and fauna of the area. The whaling industry of the town is particularly well covered. The castle offers a magnificent view of the river. Make the most of your visit by taking a walk on the beach and along the esplanade of Broughty Ferry.

In a traditional 18th century thatched cottage, on the main road in the centre of the village, the past of the region and its inhabitants is told. Costumes, toys, domestic utensils and objects of all kinds - including a replica of the Ballachullish goddess, a wooden sculpture dated 600 BC. -A replica of the Ballachullish goddess, a wooden sculpture dating from 600 BC, reveals the small story, while retrospectives on the Glencoe Massacre or the Jacobite movement tell the big one. There is also an annual temporary exhibition and events scheduled throughout the year.

The Orkney Museum is particularly well developed and is full of information and objects of great interest. Set up in a former Kirkwall house opposite the cathedral, its exhibition is a bit like a labyrinth, with rooms that follow one another in all directions. The contents are nonetheless very interesting and instructive, telling the history of the archipelago, from its origins to the present day, from the Stone Age, the Picts and the Vikings. It is an excellent introduction to discovering the region.

The church, in itself, is quite simple and uncluttered. In the cemetery of this church there are beautifully carved stelae and Celtic crosses. It is moreover the cemetery that attracts visitors, who admire the engraved stones, some of which are particularly old: 15th or 16th century. Some have been restored and are displayed in the church, others in a dedicated space within the cemetery and others still remain on the ground.