Sightseeing

Behind the scenes of France's biggest film

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

You may not have heard of Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis just yet, but the enormous success the cinematic comedy has garnered in France this year so far points to global domination pretty soon too.In April the charming movie became the most successful in the country of all time, smashing box office records and grossing astonishing amounts of money.Now you can join the legions of French film fans who are journeying to the quiet town of Bergues, in which it was set, to see what all the giggles are about.Located six miles inland from Dunkirk, it makes a pretty picture with medieval walls and towers that have guarded the coastal marshes of Flanders for generations.Its close proximity to Belgium means much of the town reflects the Flemish style of architecture, including the stunning belfry, originally built in the 16th century as a fortified watchtower before being extensively renovated after destruction in WWII.Just as picturesque, but without a silver screen appearance, is the hill town of Cassel, just south of Bergues.

Underground city in Arras centre

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

While Arras's stunning town squares may be reason enough to visit the French town, heading below street level is equally rewarding.The so-called Boves are a network of labyrinthine galleries and caverns that have been a feature of area since the 10th century.Originally they served as quarries for constructing the stunning houses and shops above, before being used as simple storage cellars, mainly for wine.During WWI the underground maze became both an ingenious hiding place for 24,000 allied soldiers, as well as a surprise attack opportunity on German units by linking and extending its reach under the front line.Visitors can get a taste of this sophisticated tunnel warfare with guided tours departing from the Hotel de Ville.Combine the subterranean experience with a view from on high by climbing the historic belfry tower, also located in the town hall.

UK benefits from free screen advertising

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tourists are increasingly flocking to the UK for a taste of cinema magic, experts say.According to a report released by the UK Film Council last year, internationally-distributed films and TV shows are helping boost visitor numbers to featured locations around the country.Of these, stately homes, historic and religious buildings, and rural landscapes are proving the biggest draws.If the films go on to achieve cult status - like Trainspotting and Monty Python - the attraction could continue for years, the report adds.Martin Evans, spokesman for marketing agency The Tourism Business, says: "Certain areas like London have benefitted the most internationally, but villages like Goathland, in the North Yorkshire Moors and used in the Heartbeat TV series, and attractions like Alnwick Castle in Harry Potter, have also seen visitor figures more than double as a direct result of being seen on screen."Top tips for 2008 include Keira Knightley flicks The Edge of Love and The Duchess, filmed in Wales and Greenwich respectively.

Somerset centre scores high for luxury busine

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

A former prime minister's home is Somerset is celebrating this month after securing a five-star rating from VisitBritain, the official website of the British Tourist Authority.Dillington House near Ilminster was judged "exceptional, with a degree of luxury".It used to house George III's prime minister, Lord North, but has since been converted into a residential business conference centre.Manager Wayne Bennett has welcomed the award, saying: "Dillington House is an amazing venue for business. A wide range of rooms and settings, together with all the technology and customer support, make any meeting away from the office a complete breeze."As well as its work facilities, Dillington House also provides an ideal base to explore the surrounding region, including the Mendips, Bath, Bristol, Glastonbury and Wells.Meanwhile, Somerset itself soared to second place in the VisitBritain league of "most visited" destinations in July.

Another Notre Dame in Clermont-Ferrand

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Want to avoid the Paris crowds but still feast your eyes on Notre Dame's magnificent architecture? Try Clermont-Ferrand's same-named version instead.The university town's original church structure dates back to the 13th century but has been extended over the years.It currently occupies an imposing position towering above Clermont-Ferrand's houses and shops in the old medieval town area.Unlike its pale Parisian counterpart, this cathedral is built from black local volcanic rock, giving the structure a dark mysterious charm.Just as gloomily fascinating is the church's interior. The darkness serves to accentuate the beautiful collection of stained glass windows on display, while it is also possible to see well-preserved 15th-century frescoes on the south transept wall.Clermont-Ferrand sits atop an extinct volcano in the Massif Central region and is the area's largest urban centre. Other religious sights beside the cathedral include the Romanesque church Notre-Dame du Port, nominated as a World Heritage Site in 1998.

Fairytale castle in France

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

The Loire valley is peppered with magnificent castles but the largest and most lavish of these is the Chateau de Chambord.It was built in 1519 by the rapacious King Francois I, whose original plans for the 'hunting lodge' included diverting the Loire River to flow nearer his new home.Nowadays the gorgeous French Renaissance architecture, blending traditional medieval forms with classical Italian structures, means the building has become one of the most recognised in the country and is thought to have been inspired by local genius Leonardo da Vinci.After gawping at the turrets and towers from the grounds and game reserve, take a look inside at the famous double-helix staircase.This flirtatious feature was used to chase lovers up and down the castle, with regular peepholes to track the other's opposite progress.For more Loire castles, visit the Chateau d'Amboise for great views over the river and countryside. Its colourful history includes briefly serving as a home for King Henri II and Catherine de Medici, as well as Mary Queen of Scots.

Rome's bygone bars and boutiques

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

See how the ancient Romans shopped at one of the city's best classical sites - Trajan's Market.Comprising old bars and stalls along tiered streets, some outlets are still so well-preserved it is possible to see the grooves made by slamming down shutters at the close of trading each evening.Following an extensive two-year renovation project, the buildings re-opened last year and now include the Imperial Forums Museum for further insight into the area and what it was used for.Covering 2,000 sq m of exhibition space and two floors, the museum uses replicas to aid visitor orientation with 15 plaster models and 12 life-size recreations of parts of the old imperial forums.It is also home to the giant head of Constantine found in an old sewer on the edge of Trajan's Market in 2005.The imperial forums were built over 300 years from 50 BC to 250 AD, partly under the patronage of Julius Caesar.

Lights, camera, action on Greek island

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Abba fans are in for a treat this summer; not only can they enjoy the blockbuster Mamma Mia! movie that launches in July, they can also visit the island on which it was filmed.A-list stars including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth all spent their August on Skopelos last year for the making of the movie.In particular, Kastani Beach - located 18km west of Skopelos Town - features heavily in the finished product, with its ramshackle bar belonging to Streep's character.However, the traditional whitewashed island houses with tiled roofs and nestled in picturesque narrow alleys are the real stars of the show.For the best selection, head to Glossa village, precariously built into the side of a mountain roughly 250m above the glittering sea. It is surrounded by beautiful pine forests and almond trees.The West End musical on which Mamma Mia! is based ranks as one of the most successful of recent decades. Since premiering in London in 1999, it has been performed in over 130 cities worldwide.

Tallinn tipped for best Baltic break

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

When it comes to the best capital in Eastern Europe, Tallinn definitely has "the edge" on its close neighbours, an expert claims.Lonely Planet travel editor Tom Hall insists the Estonian city offers a perfect balance of history, culture and great nightlife that puts it well above Krakow and Ljubljana in the holiday stakes.He says: "It's astonishingly well-preserved, one of the most concentrated historic centres in Europe. If people have been to Prague and Budapest and want to see something on a smaller scale but with a uniformity of age, [Tallinn is] absolutely superb."Among Mr Hall's nightlife recommendations is a themed Depeche Mode bar, which the band themselves apocryphally visited in 2001.However, he warns food and drink may not come as cheap as tourists expect, with rising costs of living pushing commodities up to £2 a pint of £10 a main meal.Estonia lies along the Baltic Sea, just below Finland. In fact, Tallinn itself is situated just 40 miles south of Helsinki, across the Gulf of Finland.

Casanova culture at a Czech castle

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tread in the footsteps of the world's greatest lover with a visit to Duchcov Castle in the Czech Republic.This year marks the 210th anniversary of the renowned womaniser's death, who spent the last 13 years of life as an exile working as a librarian at the castle.After dying at the age of 73, Casanova was buried in the graveyard of Duchov church in 1798, but his body was later exhumed and reburied in an unknown location.As well as the tombstone, Casanova fans can visit his rooms at the castle and study various manuscripts he left there, including letters, books, poems and mathematical treatises.In addition, the Duchcov estate also hosts an exhibition of historical furniture belonging to the Prague Museum of Applied Arts and an exposition of Czech Baroque oil paintings from the National Gallery.The town is just two hours from the capital.