Things to see and do Glasgow

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.

The University of Glasgow is a little architectural marvel. Founded in 1451, it is the fourth oldest of the English-speaking countries and one of the best in the world. Originally located near the Cathedral in the city centre, it moved to its present premises in 1870. Its students often boast of studying at Hogwarts because of its distinctive style. If you don't want to take the guided tour, at least come and take a look at the buildings and courtyards. It also has some excellent museums, which contribute to the attractiveness of the area. They are named after William Hunter, a famous anatomist and leading local academic figure. Along the way: walk through Professor Square, visit the University Chapel with its superb stained glass windows, climb the Lion and Unicorn Staircase,stroll through the quadrangles (and discover the local tradition-superstition concerning its grounds) and, above all, don't miss the superb cloisters, emblematic of the building and seen in many films and series, including Outlander.

Hunterian Museum (University Avenue, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): studies geology and anatomy, with many rare minerals, fossils and specimens under glass. It also talks about different cultures around the world, from Roman Scotland to Glasgow medicine. He boasts 1.5 million items in his collection, including a sarcophagus with a mummified body, a diplodocus leg, and coconut fibre armour brought back from the South Pacific.

Hunterian Art Gallery (82 Hillhead Street, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): the artistic side of the previous attraction, this is where all art lovers will come to see works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Chardin, Whistler or Stubbs.

Mackintosh House (82 Hillhead Street, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm): right next to the Hunterian Art Gallery, this house is a reconstruction of the house where Charles Rennie Mackintosh lived. Destroyed during an extension of the campus, it had not been designed by the architect himself, but allows one to immerse oneself in his daily life, reproduced identically.

Hunterian Zoology Museum (82 Hillhead Street, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm): west of the Hunterian Museum on campus, this small zoology museum displays many taxidermy items, but also some living species, such as insects, lizards, snakes and invertebrates.

The foundation stone for Glasgow Cathedral was laid in 1136 in the presence of King David I and the building that stands proudly above the city today was completed in 1197. Since then it has been a prominent place of worship and its roof has never been destroyed, which is rare for such old walls. It is dedicated to Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern, the first bishop of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde, who is buried in the crypt. In Scotland, it is the best preserved religious building of the 12th century, which has not been altered by the Reformation or by conflicts.

On the hill next door is the Victorian necropolis of the city. It was established on 15 hectares in 1832, where 50,000 people were buried and some 3,500 monuments now stand. Some are of great beauty, and the Celtic crosses and statues are worth a visit. It is a rather poignant and mysterious place, which commands a beautiful panorama of the surroundings. Several monuments are worth seeing: John Knox Monument, an imposing monument overlooking the cemetery erected to pay homage to the man of faith, and The Bridge of Sights, described as "the separation between time and eternity", as well as a more discreet and recent monument erected in honour of William Wallace, marked with the famous quote: "I am Scotland's Guardian. Though my body has been broken, my spirit will rise again to the sound of freedom.

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are a popular meeting place for local residents and a popular meeting place in the West End. On the banks of the Kelvin River, many people come here for pleasant walks, jogging, or even a picnic. There are plants from all over the world, including orchids and begonias, but especially the Kibble Palace. These huge 1873 Victorian greenhouses are among the largest in the kingdom and cover 2,137 m². A brochure will allow you to optimize your visit.

Housed in the former editorial offices of the Glasgow Herald, the Lighthouse building was the first commission for the great Mackintosh in 1893. It is now the home of Scotland's Centre for Architecture & Design, spread over five floors. The Mackintosh Centre is dedicated to the city's leading builder and his work, while the other levels are home to changing and temporary exhibitions. A lookout point at the top offers lovely views of Glasgow. Guided tours are available on Saturdays.

Based on plans by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901, this beautiful house was only actually built between 1989 and 1996. The materials were chosen to stick as closely as possible to the world of the architect and to that of his wife, who had designed the interiors. Fans won't fail to look at it, so to appreciate the dining room, the oval room or the main hall, very typical and faithful to their designers. It is located in the middle of a wooded environment in Bellahouston Park. It is also an art gallery and exhibition space.

This is the classic tourist bus company of Glasgow. You can get on and off as much as you like along the 21 stops that cover all the important sites of the city. Count 1h20 for the complete circuit. Ideal when you have little time! The company offers several types of tours: the Music Tour which retraces the iconic musical places of the city, Pokémon Go Glasgow to go in search of Pokémon through the city. You also have the Isle of Bute Tour - to discover this sublime island -, as well as a tour of the Isle of Mull.

Erected in the image of the former bishop's apartments that were in the same place, this establishment has as its subject the main religions throughout the world. The idea is to show their similarities and differences through the study of certain themes and the support of numerous cult objects, thus inviting more open-mindedness. There is a Zen garden, carved Islamic calligraphy, Christian stained glass windows and Hindu statues.

GoMa, as it is called in Glasgow, is the second most popular modern art gallery in Scotland, after the one in Edinburgh. We meet David Hockney, Sebastiao Salgado, Andy Warhol and Scotsmen like John Bellany and Ken Currie. The building itself dates back to 1778 and a statue faces it. It is the Duke of Wellington, on whose head a traffic cone is placed. This local tradition, which is several decades old, almost died when the town hall wanted to raise the monument. The man with the cone is one of the city's proudest.

The Glasgow Tower offers a stunning panoramic view. Just the figures alone make you dizzy: it rotates 360°, it is referenced in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest fully rotating self-supporting structure in the world, it is 127 m high... Before climbing, you will discover the history of the tower and all the adventures and feats of its engineering. Climbing to the top of the tower takes just over 2 minutes. People prone to vertigo will be able to try the geolocated augmented reality experience on iPad.

Affectionately referred to as the "Squinty Bridge" by Glasgow residents, the Clyde Arc impresses with its elegant, contemporary curve that crosses the Clyde River at an angle. Officially opened on September 18, 2006, it was designed by Edmund Nuttall Ltd. who, thanks to its inventiveness, was able to win this monumental contract in 2002. The Clyde Arc, as much because of its futuristic asymmetry as because it opened up the banks of the Clyde, has become the symbol of Glasgow's urban renaissance.

Since 1993, Rabbie's Tours has been offering ethical small group tours throughout Scotland. Driver-guides who know the stories, sights and secrets of the regions follow off-the-beaten track itineraries, created and tested by travel enthusiasts. This is an opportunity to support local communities. A wide range of options are available, from one-day to two-week adventures through distilleries, castles or even private tailor-made itineraries...

Also designed by Mackintosh between 1903 and 1906, this school was open to students until 1979. It now houses a museum on school life and education in Scotland in the last century. In addition to the building, which is worth a visit on its own, like every building by the famous architect, it is immersed in the daily lives of schoolchildren: the children of families working in shipbuilding, during the reign of Queen Victoria and up until the 1960s.

Claimed to be the world's largest round balloon-related tourist attraction, it boasts some 2,500 items, including the oldest national competition trophy in history: the Scottish Cup. In all, 14 rooms are in a row. You walk through the "hall of fame", with its 89 portraits of Scotland's most popular players, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish. The site could not be better chosen: Hampden Stadium is the stadium of the Scottish team,

Established in 1992, the CCA is the cultural and creative hub of the City of Glasgow. Six major exhibitions are held each year, promoting contemporary, national and international artists. The calendar also includes theatre, dance, film, visual arts, literature and many other artistic performances. The best thing to do is to check their website to see what's going on while you're there. There is a café on site, the Saramago.

Redeveloped by the National Trust and open to the public, this townhouse bears witness to life in a Victorian building in the early 20th century. Miss Agnes Toward lived here for half a century and many of her possessions are still there. Gas lighting is still in use and is a far cry from the installations we know in today's society. Among the curiosities and unusual objects: a jar of plum jam made in 1929, coal-fired stoves, gas lamps still functional...

Right next to the cathedral, Provand's Lordship is Glasgow's oldest house, built in 1471. It was the residence of the chaplain of the Saint Nicholas Hospital and it gives a very interesting insight into what daily life was like in the Middle Ages. Completely refurbished as it was then, the furniture was donated by William Burrell, the philanthropist of the Burrell Collection. The carved wooden chairs, chests and cupboards, as well as the quantity of domestic objects give a very authentic dimension to this attraction.

Widely regarded as Charles Rennie Mackintosh's finest architectural achievement, the Glasgow School of Art was designed and built between 1896 and 1909. The building was unfortunately damaged by a fire in 2014 which led to major renovations that were initially scheduled to last until 2019.

Unfortunately, the Glasgow School of Art is no longer available to visit, following a new and much more serious fire in June 2018. Prior to this event, a one-hour tour was possible.

The superb building on George Square is none other than the town hall: City Chambers. Built in 1888, it is a very fine example of Victorian civic architecture by William Young. In 1923 it expanded to John Street and in 1986 the Custom House on George Street increased its total area to 14,000 square metres. His classicism of great beauty has earned him the choice to embody the Kremlin or the Vatican in film shoots. The banqueting hall, the council chamber and the marble staircase are the highlights of the visit

At the docks, the Tall Ship is a three-masted ship named Glenlee, built in Port Glasgow and launched at sea in 1896. She circumnavigated the world four times, survived formidable storms before being bought by the Spanish Navy and became a sail training ship from 1922 to 1969, then a training school until 1981. Rediscovered in 1990 and fully restored, this ship is accessible from top to bottom and is well worth a visit, before or after the Riverside Museum.