The Necropolis

Visit a cemetery are you mad!!!
Nope … It’s a wonderful place, full of history and architecture,
Lovely views of the city
Hunt for the writer of wee willy winky
find the most elaborately decorated grave and guess their wealth Either way it’s a lovely different walk You will be dying to go back ;-)

Inspired by yesterday’s review of the day, I realised I forgot to write a review following my recent visit to the Necropolis. Like a number of the others reviews state, the Necropolis is well worth a visit, and despite living in Glasgow on and off since I was 17 I’d still not made it along. So when one of my English friends was up for a long weekend, I jumped at the chance to take her here for a wander.
Necropolis means ‘city of the dead’ (we actually had to google it before our visit as neither of us really knew what the word meant!) and might seem like a strange place to want to visit but I like the history and reading the inscriptions. It was a cold and very windy winter day when we went but I still enjoyed the climb to the top and checking out both the views of Glasgow and reading about some of the people buried here.
I’ve heard you can go on an organised tour which I’m sure would be interesting. I’d certainly be interested to find out why the graves are so orderly, the neat rows don’t match up to other old cemeteries I’ve visited.

I had been to Necropolis years ago and wanted to go back ever since I moved back to glasgow. So when i left my flat today and the whole street was white I figured there was no better time for a bit of sightseeing. There is something ethereal about this place covered in snow, like being in a scene from game of thrones. Without the creepy white walkers. I did walk though, all the way to the top. The view was spectacular and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. Magic. I’m not saying wait til it snows to go but if you have the opportunity to see it one day, treat yourself to a white afternoon in peaceful Necropolis. And wear gloves.

If in Glasgow, you need to go the Necropolis, yes it’s a cemetery, but really you must go.
The Necropolis is a pretty cool place, lots of history in there, do not speed through, and take your time to read some of the tombs, which I did, some even have the entire family together including the maids and servants.
This is history for all us to see, and its free! And oddly its quite stunning too, does not give you an eerie feeling either. You will also see great views of Glasgow too!
I could easily take a few hours to see everything, so if in the area, stop by and learn about its history and walk in the past.

People always think I’m a bit crazy to suggest talking a walk around the Necropolis. I can see why they’d think that but I think the Necropolis has a great walk and is packed with so much history. From the graves to the names on them, I find it all so interesting and there’s a great view of Glasgow at the top.
The cathedral is pretty to see and has been used as one of the filming scenes for Outlander. I know this because I was stood outside it when they were filming and could hear chanting!
I’ve heard that the tour is really good and that there’s so much info they tell you like what the different gravestones mean. I’ve never taken the tour but I might this year!
Next sunny day, take a trip to the Necropolis and I think you’ll be surprised (in a good way!).

Visited April 2015: «Hidden behind a Cathedral»
We originally thought this was the cemetery behind the Glasgow Cathedral until we located the entrance. There’s a bridge over the motorway to the cemetery upon the hill. Different monuments, different eras, and amazing views of the city.

I enjoy hiking up here when I’m in Glasgow. I find ancient sites fascinating, and the Necropolis is no exception. Great place to take great pictures and it offers one of the best views of the city. The Necropolis is totally worth the trip if you’re already at the Cathedral. It’s a great place to immerse yourself from the past. The site is filled with beautiful tombs, monuments and flowers, not to mention that it’s free!

Las mejores vistas de Glasgow las encuentras aquí.
Fuimos la primera mañana que estuvimos allí y fue un paseo increíble. Es genial pasear tranquilamente entre esas tumbas y tanto verde, con un parque de niños al lado. No como en los cementerios españoles, que horror de sitios. Aquí se celebra la vida, se disfruta de la paz y el silencio de la zona y rindes el homenaje que se merecen los que están allí.
Había tumbas de niños que son las más chungas, dan un poco de cosa, pero me atraen mucho con todos esos muñecos que les ponen. Luego los ángeles y las estatuas que también son entre rollo miedo y atracción.
La catedral que está al lado es muy normal, no tiene mucha cosa pero la tienen muy bien cuidada y las vidrieras si que son bastante bonitas.
Puedes ver toda la ciudad desde allí y para llegar atraviesas toda la zona de las facultades y bibliotecas. Bastante interesante el camino y te alejas mucho del bullicio y puedes desconectar.

5 stars for a walk round a graveyard. You might wonder if I have lost my mind. The answer in general may well be yes, but this place is definitely worthy of a high rating and a bit of your time.
I did a history degree at uni and I generally like «old stuff» and taking photos of it, so for me the Necropolis was a bit of a revelation. Last Sunday we went for a wander around it and I spent ages just reading all the different tombstones and trying to work out the story behind them. I took loads of pictures and was surprised/​impressed by the sheer size and effort that had gone into making them.
A visit to necropolis is an opportunity to take a break from the norm and think about people and events from the past. It’s definitely one to do on a bright sunny day. For me it’s well worth a visit whether your a tourist or a local. I definitely want to go back and do an organised to learn and learn more about the place.

Superbly morbid and spectacular Glasgow attraction.
If you’re at all a necrophiliac (not in the literal sense, hopefully) and in fond of morbid places to visit, when in Glasgow this is the place to go. A veritable city of the dead, as the name implies, it is a huge area of gravestones, tablets, figures and mausoleums that stretches for a mile and towers over the cathedral area in Glasgow, anchored by St. Mungo’s (Glasgow) Cathedral just below.
Glasgow is not my favorite Scottish town, but this is my favorite place in Glasgow. Recommended!

This place is so pretty. One of those peaceful, pretty graveyards that (probably?) served a dual purpose as a park. Right by the cathedral and a couple other historical sites, definitely worth a visit, even if you don’t have a historical context for the site.

Of course I had to go to The Necropolis!

The Necropolis is definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re already in the area visiting Glasgow Cathedral.
It’s really beautiful in a dark sort of way. The artistry and respect that went into the ornate monuments is rather impressive. It doesn’t take up a lot of your time to wander around a little, but I highly recommend it nonetheless. If you go all the way up, you can get some really great views of the city and the Cathedral.

Before I came out to Glasgow I was told to visit the Necropolis. At first I thought, hmm what’s the big deal about it? We have graveyards in California but nothing special, just very symmetrical fields with identical gravestones. We’ve got only one famous one that stands out, which is the Hollywood forever cemetery where musicians, actors and anyone in the movie biz are buried, but no «regular joe» cemeteries which I could think would be good for tourists to take a look around. I thought, It’s probably really depressing and dreary, but I was completely wrong! I think there is something so beautiful and peaceful about walking though this cemetery, it is incredible. It’s a Victorian cemetery with an amazing layout of rolling hills within the Necropolis, full of gravestones all shapes and sizes, some of the dates of the graves even aging back to the 1832, it’s just crazy how much history this place has… I’ve never seen anything like it! The sizes of the graves can range for very small to insanely detailed, large mausoleums. Once you get to the top there are lovely panoramic views of the city, the Glasgow Cathedral and a view of the Royal Infirmary of Glasgow, which even that building dates back to 1794. I really enjoyed my visit here and never thought I would love this place as much as I did, who ever is resting in this Necropolis is at peace and you can really feel that presence when you are there.

The Necropolis is the ancient heart of Glasgow, said to have once been called Dun Chattan, the site of a Druidic moon temple overlooking the bend of the sacred Molendinar burn.
Here many of Glasgow’s mystical ley-​lines converge, invisible energy lines linking this spot with distant places like Tinto Hill to the south-​east and Dumgoyne to the north-​west, both of which you can see on a clear day.
To the south of the hill sits the ancient Ladywell, once used by passing Roman soldiers on their way to the Antonine Wall, and one of the last public wells in Glasgow to remain in use. The Ladywell’s location was once beside the main route into Glasgow from the east, but now it sits capped and forlorn in a dead-​end bit of street, overshadowed by Tennent’s brewery,
Consecrated as a burial place by St. Ninian in the 4^th century, this hill has been a place of the dead for hundreds of years. It is here that Glasgow’s patron saint, Kentigern (also called St. Mungo), arrived in the early 6^th century, allegedly following the trail of a cart pulled by two oxen carrying the body of the holy man Fergus. Here he buried Fergus, and on the opposite banks of the Molendinar, Kentigern set up his chapel.
It wasn’t until the early 19^th century that the Glasgow Merchants House developed it into a proper City of the Dead, and it is said that the journey from the Cathedral across the Bridge of Sighs and up the hill to the top is deliberately intended to be a reflection of the Freemason’s journey from darkness into light. There are certainly Masonic clues a-​plenty for those with eyes to look. Many of the tombs were designed by outstanding Glasgow architects like Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, David Hamilton, and even Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It’s well worth doing one of the regular walking tours organised by the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis to really appreciate the grandeur of the place.
But whether you’re a fan of Victorian Gothic or not, the Necropolis can still offer you some great views over the city to the south, and the architecture of the mausoleums and tombs can provide some wonderful photographs when the light is right. If you’re really lucky, you might see some of the deer that are known to live here.

As soon as I first spotted the Necropolis (aka City of the Deid) I knew I just had to visit it, I’d heard so many stories about how ‘amazing’ the views were but also how ‘dodgy’ it was — full of ‘junkies’ & ‘neds’ all oot to stab or mug you (of course). I must admit that did put me off a wee bit… then I got a job at the Royal Infirmary and I was so close to said Necropolis I could smell it. Mmm… ancient dead bodies.
So one day a friend & I decide to brave the junkies/​neds & go for a wee wander… well, a wee wander here can easily turn into a ‘Oops. Where am I… Have we been up that way?’ So as we found the Necropolis has various paths & like those old 80’s Choose Your Own Adventure books whatever path you choose leads you to your destiny ~ be that a lovely deer (which we did actually stumble across once) or death… well, maybe not death but REALLY muddy feet.
The old Goth in me (even though I was never a Goth) does love a good graveyard. I am fascinated by all the ornate & beautiful headstones, and also it’s always a wee bit funny (if childish) to have a giggle at some of the old funny names. Sorry. So this is a super place for all the budding photographers & grave-​lovers out there but also for those that love an interesting walk & a great view. The views from the very top are brilliant.
I actually ended up moving into a flat right opposite the Necropolis (great view to see from your window, even if it is a wee bit spooky at night…) and spent many occasions in the Necropolis either alone or with company, I must say though when I was alone I did always get that wee pang of fear that a crazy junkie ned might attack me from behind a gravestone… but thankfully that never happened.
Another great time to visit the very top of the Necropolis is on Bonfire night ~ myself & The Boy did this one year & the view was fantastic. Free firework display for everyone — yay!
This place is beautiful all year round; in the Summer I used to love visiting this place to take photos or just to sit in peace & read a book. Also in the Winter when covered in snow it might be a bit difficult to negotiate the slippy, winding paths but it’s worth it again for the great, snowy view of Glasgow.
The Necropolis appeals to all sorts; once from my living room window I even saw a guy with a woman doing a ‘sexy’ photoshoot amongst the gravestones! Haha! Death & sex. Powerful stuff.

The city of the dead… one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Glasgow’s necropolis winds its way up a hill in the heart of the city. A stonesthrow from the cathedral, once you’ve crossed the tall bridge of sighs you can walk right in.
There are many interesting gravestones to see, including a large portion of the Knox family and past merchants within the city. Apparently it’s really expensive for a plot here, and they are usually reserved for people who have close connections to some of the big families that have been buried here in the past.
There are some amazing mausoleums, crumbling and somewhat humbling in their decaying state. Some gravestones have been upturned or lie on their sides, but it doesn’t take away from the stature or strange romance of the place. Expect to see many motifs, from a distinct Greek influence to strong, plain Calvinistic tombs. Some of the gravestones are so old you can barely read the text, but a number from the Victorian and Edwardian eras are extremely ornate.
When you reach the top of the hill you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the city, almost in its entirety. Turn one way and you can see the old industrial relics along the river; turn another and you see the tenements of the neighbouring east end creating a varied skyline. Look straight ahead and you could practically nosedive into the Tennents’ brewery.
A sad, sombre but nevertheless gorgeous walk, the only thing I would warn tourists is don’t venture in at nightfall. but if you can stay long enough to see the sunset before making a sharp exit, then it is beautiful indeed.

It is easy to dismiss the Necropolis as the dwelling place of goths and photographers. But do not be so quick to judge.
Take it in and allow yourself to experience the feelings that this place brings.

A tourist destination for the slightly macabre, a visit to the Necropolis is a memorable and haunting experience, full of striking monuments and with cracking views over the city. As dusk approaches it does begin to feel quite eerie, though I’m never sure if the uneasy feeling you get is a fear of the heroin addicts from the nearby East End, or from the possibility of running into a disembodied malevolent spirit, angry that his grave is a bit less splendid than that of John Knox.
A slightly sad sidestory to the Necropolis is that the sheer scale and grandeur of the place highlights how in Victorian times Glasgow was one of the wealthiest and most important cities in the world, whilst nowadays, despite some very succesful regeneration, it is still a shadow of it’s former self.
Still, a visit to the Necropolis is as good a time as you can possibly have whilst being surrounded by 50,000 rotting corpses, and it’s a must for any visitor to the city.

It’s hard to believe Glasgow’s majestic necropolis cemetery sits just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
Offering panoramic views of the city, the serene location is an absorbing place for a stroll, with the elaborate tombs of some of Glasgow most notable residents as impressive as any other Victorian architecture in the city and making it something of an outdoor museum.
The most obvious is the intimidating column for John Knox, the second highest point in Glasgow, but the likes of Major Archibald Douglas Monteath and William Gavin did fairly well too with their opulent burial places. Not only is the place interesting in an architectural sense, but it also serves as a fascinating reminder of the fact Glasgow clearly had a few bob to spend on such luxuries in its day.
Thankfully, after gaining a reputation as a haven for Tennent’s Super-​guzzling jaikies, the last few years have seen the Necropolis become a much safer place to wander around, something which is reflected by the increasing number of tourists who visit, particularly for the spectacular sunset views.

Glasgow Necropolis is a huge Victorian garden cemetery behind Glasgow Cathedral, on the hill behind Glasgow Royal INfirmary.
It’s a huge and beautiful site with some amazing shrines and tombstones. It may seem eerie to some but ti’s a beautiful park and absolutely fascinating to wander around. Unfortunately some of the gravestones have been vandalised in recent years, which gives the place more of a sad feel. However, if you are interested in history and the Victorian era in particular, it’s well worth a sunny afternoon walk around.

Recuerdo el paseo por este cementerio, perteneciente a la Catedral de San Mungo, como algo muy agradable: un domingo a la mañana, más familias paseando, gente haciendo footing, sol Nada sombrío.
Y es que, los cementerios anglosajones no tienen nada que ver con lo que nosotros tenemos en mente cuando pensamos en un cementerio, tienen una arquitectura totalmente diferente y resultan cuando menos curiosos para conocer.

Je me suis promenée dans ce cimetière tout en longueur sur une butte. On s’y promèné comme dans un parc, via de petites allées. Pas de marbres clinquants, mais des stèles de pierre dressées à même le gazon, parfois ornées de symboles celtes. Très diférent des cimetières français.
N’oubliez pas de visiter la Cathédrale St Mungo juste derrière.
du 13ème, c’est la seulle cathédrale ayant survécut à la réforme en Ecosse. Superbe voute en bois.