Le Lustre, a beautiful modern-contemporary duplex penthouse, located in the historic heart of Chamonix. Covering more than 400m2 and with a rooftop south-facing terrace of more than 100m2, the duplex offers breath-taking 360 degree views of the Mont Blanc mountain landscape. Over a 2-year period, with the involvement of leading architect firms from Hong Kong and Chamonix in conjunction with the best local artisans, Le Lustre moved from concept to reality and this iconic building came back to life in the center of town.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (usually shortened to Chamonix) is a resort area near the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. At the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps, it’s renowned for its skiing. Year-round, cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border.
Normandy is a region of northern France. Its varied coastline includes white-chalk cliffs and WWII beachheads, including Omaha Beach, site of the famous D-Day landing. Just off the coast, the rocky island of Mont-Saint-Michel is topped by a soaring Gothic abbey. The city of Rouen, dominated by Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, is where military leader and Catholic saint Joan of Arc was executed in 1431.
Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.
Europe is home to the world’s greatest castles and I want to tell you the stories behind them. From the medieval fortresses of the UK, to the kingdoms of Germany, Europe’s castles remain unmatched!
Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths.
Recorded: August 2020
Video Timeline Links: 00:00 – Amsterdam, Netherlands Walking Tour Intro 01:37 – Amsterdam Central Station 09:35 – Old Church 18:59 – Dam Square 19:32 – National Monument 21:30 – Madame Tussauds 22:00 – Royal Palace 22:56 – The New Church 24:19 – Magna Plaza 30:36 – Amsterdam Museum 39:48 – Mint Tower 41:06 – Floating Flower Market 47:53 – Rembrandt Square 48:34 – Rembrandt Statue 52:43 – Museum of Bags & Purses 1:00:29 – Museum Van Loon 1:06:14 – Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 1:13:36 – Rijksmuseum 1:16:21 – Museum Square 1:34:02 – Leidsestraat 1:43:59 – Museum of the Canals 1:45:17 – Cromhout House Museum 1:55:16 – Church of Our Lady 1:58:55 – Western Church (Westerkerk) 2:01:34 – Anne Frank House Museum 2:10:23 – Torensluis Bridge 2:11:04 – Statue of Multatuli
Take the classic route from London to Venice, the gateway to the Orient. This breathtaking journey through rural French farmlands and Swiss Alpine valleys can be travelled in either direction, or both. Go further afield with Paris to Istanbul, an authentic adventure over six days to the edge of Europe. Delve into culture with stops in Budapest and Bucharest before arriving in soulful Istanbul.
Paris to Berlin is the newest journey in the repertoire, a thrilling voyage connecting two of Europe’s most vibrant cultural hubs. The tradition of the grand tour thrives with a luxurious escape on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
An uncontested icon of the rails, this train has long captured the hearts and imaginations of glamorous guests. Three elegant dining carriages exude culinary sophistication, from Lalique glass inlays in Cote d’Azur to black lacquer panels in L’Oriental. A steward in blue and gold livery waves with a white-gloved hand, welcoming you on board with a knowing smile. Settle in to your cabin, adorned with art-deco details and French-polished cherry wood, and sit back as a grand voyage begins.
Denmark is a Scandinavian country comprising the Jutland Peninsula and numerous islands. It’s linked to nearby Sweden via the Öresund bridge. Copenhagen, its capital, is home to royal palaces and colorful Nyhavn harbor, plus the Tivoli amusement park and the iconic “Little Mermaid” statue. Odense is writer Hans Christian Andersen’s hometown, with a medieval core of cobbled streets and half-timbered houses.
Copenhagen, Denmark – Famed for Vikings and fairytales, Denmark’s capital city is starting to draw the crowds for entirely new and modern reasons. Copenhagen’s contemporary architecture, fluid, innovative design and Michelin-starred restaurants make this Scandinavian city a favourite with the European jet-set. International events like climate change conferences and cycling tours have placed this Danish city firmly on the global map.
Sights – One of the oldest amusement parks in the world, Tivoli Gardens comes into its own after the sun goes down and the fairy lights switch on. This rambling park offers flower gardens, boat rides, beer gardens, dreamy architecture, carnival rides and nightly firework displays. The park is a little bit kitsch, but a whole lot of fun, especially for travelers with children.
Explore the twisting, cobble-stoned medieval streets of Old Copenhagen and marvel at the architecture. If you want to know how the other half lives, take a tour of examples from royal Danish culture, including the Crown Jewels, at Rosenborg Slot, a17th century Renaissance castle located in the centre of the city. The castle was built by King Christian lV, and is surrounded by blooming gardens in the summer time.
For a dose of an alternative way of life, visit Christiania, Copenhagen’s commune of like-minded individuals who have their own law and lifestyle. Christiania is a sanctuary for pensioners, immigrants, artists, the homeless, the unemployed, students, intellectuals and musicians. Christiana is not governed by Copenhagen’s municipality, and there exists a liberal and progressive mindset within its borders. Christiana is relatively safe — there are rules within the community that forbid stealing, violence and firearms — but you should still go with a friend during the day.
Walking down Mare Street, vibrant even in these days of restrictions, it’s hard to reconcile today’s Hackney with pictures from the past. Shop-lined roads were once babbling streams, pubs were market gardens and this bastion of hip, edgy, urban creativity was a remote village where people retreated for a taste of idyllic countryside. But then, few places have changed more over time than this corner of East London.
According to local lore, the small settlement that sprung up along the Roman roads to Lincoln and Colchester owes its name to a Danish chief called Hacon, whose eye — islet—this was. No trace remains of this early history, but some medieval records indicate that the Knights Templars owned about 110 acres in the Hackney Marshes and built some mills on the River Lea — hence today’s Temple Mills. The village’s first parish church, St Augustine, was named after the Templars’ patron saint.
Linz is a city in Upper Austria, straddling the Danube River midway between Salzburg and Vienna. Baroque buildings, including Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) and the old cathedral or Alter Dom, ring Hauptplatz, the old town’s main square. The riverside Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz has a major modern art collection. Across the river, the striking Ars Electronica Center focuses on society, technology and life in the future.
Breaking away from the more well-known olive oil seasoned flatbread, focaccia in Bari, Italy is a feast of flavors made with tomatoes, olives, oregano, and olive oil. We visited Panificio Fiore, a local bakery that’s been churning fresh focaccia every day for over a century. The bakery is just a few steps away from the city’s Basilica di San Nicola, an important destination for pilgrims all over the world. For those foodies exploring the old town on another kind of pilgrimage, a slice of focaccia here will cost only 1 euro and will for sure open the doors of heaven.
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