Monuments to visit Glasgow

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Mackintosh would almost make us forget the other great Scottish architects, such as William Adam, to whom we owe this charming 1752 villa. In addition to its lush green gardens with 1,000 rhododendrons, it contains a good number of master paintings. The Italians are well represented, with Francisco Goya, El Greco and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, but there is also the British William Blake, whose work is so inspired. This was the home of the Maxwell family, whose Edwardian lifestyle still lives on in every room.

This library is a pure jewel. Bibliophiles, lovers of literature or history, you must enter this cultural mecca, which spans 5 floors. It houses some of the finest national collections, including one of the world's largest collections of Burns manuscripts. It hosts many events. Genealogy enthusiasts can also research their Scottish ancestors at the Family History Centre. A café and an online store will allow you to prolong the immersion.