Vacation Packages

Scotland is an incredibly popular place to visit and one of the most exciting cities to visit is Glasgow. Glasgow has a vast array of visitor attractions covering an enormous diversity in tastes. While there are many modern attractions many people visit the city to take in the sights of the city’s spectacular architecture including the many works of the famous Art Nouveau architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Glasgow in 1868. He worked as an architect from the age of 16 and in 1890 he was a winner of the Alexander Thomson Travelling Studentship which allowed him to take a tour of Italy. After he returned, in 1893, he gained his first big project, the Glasgow Herald Building.

In Glasgow you do not need to travel very far to find a Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece. His finest work can be seen in the building of the Glasgow School of Art. Many consider Hill House his second finest work and while this is in Helensburgh it is well worth the small amount of effort required to visit it. You may also wish to visit House for an Art Lover. Two other Mackintosh buildings are looked at below, Queens Cross Church and the Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is actually the Glasgow Herald Building mentioned above. It is Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City, and features an ever changing programme of superb exhibitions and events. The Mackintosh Centre is found here and where you will find a wealth of information on the life and works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. From the Mackintosh Tower it is possible to get the finest views across the city of Glasgow, to get there you need to go to the third floor and then climb a helical staircase but it is well worth the effort I assure you. However, if you do not fancy expending that sort of energy you could always take the lift to the viewing platform on the sixth floor instead.

Queens Cross Church

Glasgow’s Queens Cross Church, though no longer an active church, is famous for being the only church ever designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh that was completed. Many people know it as the Mackintosh church and it first came into use in 1899 and was decommissioned in the 1970′s. It is now open to the public and home to the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society.

If you have an interest in architecture and you are visiting Glasgow you should take the opportunity to visit some of the other amazing buildings in this fascinating city. Top of my list is the incredible medieval Glasgow Cathedral (the only one to survive the Scottish Reformation complete).

Want to find out more about Glasgow hotel accommodation? then visit Karl Fraser’s site which has the most comprehensive listings of Glasgow hotels.