Culture of Motherwell. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The main historic symbol of Motherwell is the old Motherwell Cathedral. It is a bishop’s residence that annually attracts thousands of pilgrims from different countries. The cathedral was finished in 1900. Since its construction, its original exterior has been preserved. Besides an unrivaled interior, the main value of the cathedral is an old organ that was reconstructed completely in 2008. At the church, organ and church choir's concerts are often held. In 1984, the cathedral was reconstructed. Its interior was changed significantly. The high altar and some pieces of art decorating inner rooms have been remained unchangeable. The main city cathedral is a colorful architectural monument built in the Gothic revival style.

Another interesting place is the building of the old Motherwell Heritage Centre. After the reconstruction in 1996, a big research centre was opened here. Now, the specialists of this centre study the history and culture of the region. Visitors can enjoy many entertainments here. They can see unusual interactive exhibits that reproduce the interesting scenes of the past and acquaint with different spheres of regional culture.

In the centre, there are several halls for temporary exhibitions. Here, works of local artists, sculptors, and designers are often displayed. There is still a city archive in the centre. Here, important documents about the region and the city are kept. One of the main attractive features of the research centre is a tower. On its top, there is the most popular observation platform in the city. In recent years, the Motherwell Heritage Centre has expanded the range of tourist services. Now, there are a gift shop and a bookshop where you can buy books about regional history. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The biggest culture centre in the city is the Civic Centre. Since its foundation, it has been multipurpose and used for organizing different cultural events. There is the biggest concert hall in the city. It can accommodate up to 1 600 people. Here, different music concerts, from rock to classical, are held. In the centre, there is also a modern theatre. Its guests can see classical plays and unusual amateur performances. In some rooms of the culture centre, conferences, festive events, and temporary exhibitions are held.

Those who like walking in historic places should visit the old Dalzell House located in the immediate surroundings of Motherwell. It is an impressive tower. The Dalzell House was built in the 15th century. Since its construction, it has been used as a residential building. In the period between the 17th and 19th centuries, several constructions were added to the old tower. Most of them have survived to this day.

In the 80s of the last century, the historic building was reconstructed completely. Now, there are private apartments. Some constructions of this historic complex belong to city authorities. The historic complex is located in a beautiful natural area, on the bank of the River Clyde. It attracts more tourists in a warm period. Near the old tower, there are interesting hiking routes.

Those who like walking in historic places should take a trip to the nearby village New Lanark that charms with its indigenous atmosphere. there are a lot of historic monuments. This village was founded in the late 18th century by one of the industrialists. Here, he built several cotton fabrics that had been working until the 70s of the last century. Over time, industrial centres became outdated. The village was abandoned. Old fabrics and residential buildings were destroyed.

Local authorities decided to preserve unique architectural monuments of the industrial village. All the buildings of old fabrics and houses of the 18th century were reconstructed. Now, New Lanark is a unique architectural complex of historical significance. It is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Remarkably, about 200 people live in the village now. They work in a tourist sphere. Every year, the historic village is visited by 400 000 people.