Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

104  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION GLASGOW  105

4 St Mungo decided to step in with money,
Museum of and with the idea for a more
Religious Life extensive project – a museum
and Art of religious life and art. The
site chosen was adjacent to
the cathedral, where the
2 Castle St. Tel (0141) 276 1625.
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Thu & Sat, 13th­century Castle of the
11am–5pm Fri & Sun. 7 8 by Bishops of Glasgow once
appointment. - = stood. The museum has the
∑ glasgowlife.org.uk/museums appearance of a centuries­old
fortified house, despite the fact
Glasgow has strong religious that it was completed in 1993.
roots, and the settlement that The top floor describes the
grew to become today’s city story of the country’s religion
started with a monastery from a non­denominational
founded in the 6th per spective. Both Glasgow’s medieval cathedral viewed from
century AD by a priest Protestant and the southwest
called Mungo. He died Catholic versions
in the early years of of Christianity are 5 Glasgow Cathedral
the 7th century, and represented, as well and Necropolis
his body lies buried as the other faiths of
The imposing City Chambers in George Square, where a statue of Sir Walter Scott stands atop the central column underneath Glasgow modern Scotland. The Cathedral Sq. Cathedral: Tel (0141)
Cathedral. The build­ many, varied displays 552 6891. Open Apr–Sep: 9:30am–
1 Gallery of social issues, often featuring was opened in 1888 by Queen ing itself dates from Detail from the touch on the lives of 5:30pm Mon–Sat, 1–5pm Sun;
Modern Art groups that are marginalized Victoria. With the elegant pro­ the 12th century, and St Mungo Museum communities as Oct–Mar: 10am–4pm Mon–Sat,
1–4pm Sun. 7 Necropolis:
in today’s society. portions of the interior decor­ stands on ground extensive as Glas­
Royal Exchange Sq. Tel (0141) ated in marble and mosaic, the blessed by St Ninian as long gow’s Muslims, who have had Open 24hrs daily.
287 3050. Open 10am–5pm opu lence of this building makes ago as AD 397. The ever­ their own Mosque in the city ∑ glasgowcathedral.org.uk
Mon–Thu & Sat, 11am–5pm Fri & 2 George Square it the most impressive of its growing num bers of visitors since 1984, as well as local As one of the few churches to
Sun. 7 8 prebook. - converts to the Baha’i faith. The
∑ glasgowlife.org.uk/museums City centre. City Chambers: Tel (0141) type in Scotland. to the cathedral eventually escape destruction during the
287 4018. Open Mon–Fri, 10:30am & prompted plans for an other floors are given over to Scottish Reformation (see p48)
Once the home of Glasgow’s 2:30pm for guided tours. 7 8 3 Provand’s interpretive centre. Despite the works of art – among them is by adapting itself to Protestant
Royal Exchange (the city’s Merchants House: Tel (0141) 221 8272. efforts of the Society of Friends Craigie Aitchison’s Crucifixion VII, worship, this cathedral is a rare
centre for trade), this building 8 by appt (fee payable). Lordship of Glasgow Cathedral, however, which sits alongside religious example of an almost complete
dates from 1829 and also ∑ merchantshouse.org.uk 3 Castle St. Tel (0141) 276 1625. sufficient funds could not be artifacts and artworks, such as original 13th­century church.
incorporates a late Open 10am–5pm Tue–Thu & Sat, raised. The local auth ority burial discs from Neolithic It was built on the site of a
18th­century mansion George Square was laid out in 11am–5pm Fri & Sun. ∑ glasgow China (2,000 BC), chapel founded by the city’s
that formerly the late 18th century as a resi­ life.org.uk/museums contempo rary paint­ patron saint, St Mungo, a 6th­
occupied the site. dential area, but re development ings by Aboriginal century bishop of Strathclyde.
The local auth ority during Victorian times conferred Provand’s Lordship was originally Australians, and some According to legend, Mungo
took over the its enduring status as the city’s built as a canon’s house in 1471 excellent Scottish placed the body of a holy man,
Exchange just after focal point. The only building and is now Glasgow’s oldest stained glass from the named Fergus, on a cart yoked
World War II, and not to be affected by the later surviving house – and a museum. early part of the 20th to two wild bulls, telling them
for many years 19th­century makeover is the Its low ceilings and wooden century. Further dis­ to take it to the place ordained
it served as a Millennium Hotel (1807) on furnishings create a vivid impres­ plays in the museum by God. In the “dear green place”
library. It finally the north side of the Square. sion of life in a wealthy 15th­ examine issues of at which the bulls stopped, he
opened its The 1870s saw a building century house hold. Mary, Queen fundamental concern built his church.
doors as the boom, with the construction of of Scots (see p48) may have stayed to people of all religions Because of its sloping site, the
Gallery of the former Post Office (1876) at here when she visited Glasgow – war, persecution, cathedral is built on two levels.
Modern Art in the southeast corner, and the in 1566 to see her cousin, and death and the afterlife – The crypt contains the tomb of St
Ornate tower of the Gallery 1996. One of Merchants House (1877) to husband, Lord Darnley. and from cultures as far Mungo, surrounded by an intricate
of Modern Art the largest the west side. The latter afield as West Africa and forest of col umns springing up to
contemporary is home to Glasgow’s Mexico. In the grounds end in delicately carved rib­
art galleries outside London, Chamber of Commerce. sur rounding the vaulting. The Blacader Aisle is
the GoMA is constantly building Founded in 1781, it is the building, there is a reputed to have been built over
on its collection of work by oldest organ ization of its permanent Zen Garden, a cemetery blessed by St Ninian.
Glasgow­based artists. kind in the UK. The most created by Yasutaro Behind the cathedral, a like ness
Accordingly, most of the gallery dominant structure in Tanaka. Such gardens of Protestant reformer John Knox
is home to a lively and thought­ George Square, however, have been a traditional (see p48) surveys the city from his
provoking programme of is the City Chambers on aid to con templation in Doric pillar, overlooking a Victorian
temporary exhibitions featuring the east side. Designed Japanese Buddhist ceme tery. The necropolis is filled
work by Scottish and inter­ by William Young in an temples since the with crumbling monuments to
na tional artists. Many of these Italian Renaissance style, An impressive stained-glass window at beginning of the the dead of Glasgow’s wealthy
focus on contemporary and the imposing building Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow’s only medieval house the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art 16th century. merchant families.
For hotels and restaurants see pp174–5 and pp184–6

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