Europe

[Visited: October 2007]

Glasgow was founded by Saint Mungo, the apostle who also built a first church on the location of where you can now find Glasgow Cathedral - or High Kirk of Glasgow. Saint Mungo lived in the 6th century, his own and subsequent wooden churches were replaced by a stone church in the 12th century. These, too, were replaced, adapted and changed; in the 15th century, some towers were added to the cathedral. This is one of the few cathedrals in Scotland to have survived the Reformation. After his death, Saint Mungo was buried where he had built his church, and it can now be seen in the crypt of Glasgow Cathedral.
It takes a short walk from the city to reach: Glasgow has not developed around its historical city centre. When I approached the historical centre, I noticed how few people were around here, some tourists were entering the oldest house of the city just opposite Cathedral Square. Upon entering Glasgow Cathedral, you immediately notice the light. When I entered, sunlight was falling inside through the beautifully decorated stained glass windows, casting delicate light on the interior of this very high structure. I walked inside, enjoying the beautifully decorated details of the cathedral. I also visited the crypt and the Blacader Aisle, on the site of the first church.
When I left Glasgow Cathedral, I decided to walk up Glasgow Necropolis, which is right next door. After crossing the Bridge of Sighs, I walked up one of the paths which eventually took me to the top of the hill on which the Necropolis is built. Originally, the land was bought in the 17th century, and in the 19th century it was converted to a cemetery, along the lines of Pere La Chaise in Paris. While it lacks the grandeur of its French example, Glasgow Necropolis certainly looks solemn and is beautifully laid out. When walking on top, while beautiful sunlight casts obelisk and monumental tombstone shadows on the lawn, you can enjoy views over the cathedral, the city and river, but also the industry just next door. This is home to the resting place of some fifty thousand people and therefore has become a real city of the dead.

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Glasgow Cathedral (United Kingdom)

Glasgow Cathedral > United Kingdom > Europe

[Visited: October 2007]

Around the World in 80 Clicks