Marischal College

Aberdeen


Marischal College, founded in 1593 by the 5th Earl Marischal, merged with King's College (founded 1495) in 1860 to create the modern University of Aberdeen. The college's huge and impressive facade overlooking Broad St, in perpendicular Gothic style – unusual in having such elaborate masonry hewn from notoriously hard-to-work granite – dates from 1906 and is the world's second-largest granite structure (after El Escorial near Madrid).

A renovation project saw the facade returned to its original silvery-grey glory, and the building now houses Aberdeen City Council's headquarters. Outside, Marischal Sq is undergoing redevelopment as a pedestrian plaza, creating controversy over plans for modern architecture juxtaposed with the college's neo-Gothic facade.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Aberdeen attractions

1. Provost Skene's House

0.06 MILES

This late-medieval turreted town house was occupied in the 17th century by the provost (Scottish equivalent of a mayor) Sir George Skene. It was also…

2. St Nicholas Church

0.15 MILES

On the northern side of Union St, 300m west of Castlegate, is St Nicholas Church, the so-called 'Mither Kirk' (Mother Church) of Aberdeen. The granite…

3. Mercat Cross

0.15 MILES

The 17th-century Mercat Cross bears a sculpted frieze of portraits of Stuart monarchs.

4. Salvation Army Citadel

0.18 MILES

The Baronial heap towering over the eastern end of Castle St is the Salvation Army Citadel (the local HQ of the Salvation Army), which was modelled on…

5. Aberdeen Maritime Museum

0.18 MILES

Overlooking the nautical bustle of Aberdeen harbour is the Maritime Museum, centred on a three-storey replica of a North Sea oil-production platform,…

6. Aberdeen Art Gallery

0.23 MILES

Behind the grand facade of Aberdeen Art Gallery (closed for a major redevelopment until early 2019) is a cool, marble-lined space exhibiting the work of…

7. Aberdeen Science Centre

0.54 MILES

Halfway between the beach and the city centre is this hands-on, interactive science centre. Until 2020 they're temporarily based at the even more central…

8. King’s College Chapel

1.07 MILES

It was here that Bishop Elphinstone established King's College, Aberdeen's first university (and Scotland's third), in 1495. The 16th-century college…