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Scotland’s Outer Hebrides - where we recently took a few days’ break - are a long distance away so a night-stop in the fascinating city of Glasgow is well worth it.

One of the major attractions of the city is The Glasgow School of Art. Built between 1898 and 1909, it was the masterwork of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

It was designed by Mackintosh when he was 28 years old and is today considered to be one of the world’s finest examples of ‘modern architecture’. When built, there was nothing else quite like it anywhere in the world.

It is in the small details as well as the grander vision that this building excels. Everywhere one turns there are gorgeous flourishes where function is executed boldly. The building trumpets Art Nouveau, as these photos clearly show.

1/6 The Glasgow School of Art - front entrance
The Glasgow School of Art - front entrance
2/6 The Glasgow School of Art - front façade
The Glasgow School of Art - front façade
3/6 The Glasgow School of Art - west façade
The Glasgow School of Art - west façade
4/6 The Glasgow School of Art - west façade
The Glasgow School of Art - west façade
5/6 The Glasgow School of Art - west facade
The Glasgow School of Art - west façade
6/6 The Glasgow School of Art - detail of west façade
The Glasgow School of Art - detail of west façade

The inside of the building is no less astonishing. Sadly, one is not permitted to take photographs. Instead, we recommend the real thing: an hour’s guided tour, which you can reserve here: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/visit-gsa/mackintosh-building-tours/.