City Breaks

Stratford-Upon-Avon Episode 02 Finding Shakespeare in his Home Town

Wed, 06 May 2026 17:58:00 +0000

Stratford-Upon-Avon has many charms – its Tudor ambiance, its riverside setting – but really there’s only one reason why it attracts up to 6 million visitors in a year. Shakespeare. And this episode is dedicated to places where you can 'find' him there today. There's a little biographical background, focussing mainly on his Stratford years and a run-through of five of the most significant places in his life which you can still visit today. As usual, there is much more detail on the podcast.

Reading Suggestions
Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd
Hidden Shakespeare by Nicholas Fogg
Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Links for this post

Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guild Hall
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
New Place
Holy Trinity Church

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

We love to receive your comments and suggestions!
You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk
And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!

Introduction to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:39:00 +0000

Ok, so Stratford-upon-Avon is not actually a city, but as a town which punches well above its weight historically and culturally, we’re giving it an honorary place in the City Breaks collection. This is the introductory episode, with a little geographical and historical context and an idea for a first get-your-bearings walk around Stratford. It will introduce you to Stratford's Tudor gabled houses, riverside setting, swans and boats and, of course, give a flavour of Stratford as Shakespeare's home town, where he was both born and buried and where he bought the town's second biggest house as a retirement pad. So, with no more ado and as the great man himself might have said, shall we wend?

Reading Suggestions
Stratford-upon-Avon Quick Trips by Cynthia Atkins
A-Z of Stratford-upon-Avon by Will Atkins
Secret Stratford by Nicholas Fogg
Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd

Links for this Episode
Visit Stratford-upon-Avon
Guided walks around Stratford

Paris Episode 24 Vincennes and St-Germain-en-Laye

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:57:00 +0000

Both Vincennes and St Germain-en-Laye make excellent days out from Paris, or even half days as both can be reached by public transport in less than half an hour. Each has a magnificent castle to visit, plus a range of other cultural, relaxation and shopping possibilities. So this episode tells you how to get to each place, following up with what there is to see and do there, plus – bien sûr! – a few of the interesting historical snippets which will inform your visit.

Links for this post

Château de Vincennes

Vincennes Tourist Office

Château de St Germain-en-Laye

St Germain-en-Laye Tourist Office

Espace Vera

Debussy’s Birthplace

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Paris Episode 23 Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:52:00 +0000

This Paris episode covers two of the most beautiful châteaux in the Paris region. Both are easy to reach on public transport and both have fascinating stories to tell. We cover how to get there, what you can expect to see and make sure we cover the most interesting tales – François I’s show-off gallery, Napoleon’s refurbishment to impress the Pope and the party-to-end-all-parties which went ended in disaster and ruination.

Reading Suggestion
Francis I, The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda

Useful Links
Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Amsterdam Episode 12 An Amsterdam Anthology

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:23:00 +0000

Our Amsterdam Anthology rounds off the series by offering some different perspectives on the city. Here, you’ll find Amsterdam seen through the eyes of writers, some from the past, many contemporary: travel writers, journalists, novelists and an author of short stories. Between them they provide lots of different ways to get to know – or reminisce about! – the city and, we hope, plenty of inspiration for further reading.

Reading Suggestions
My Dam Life by Sean Conlan
Amsterdam Stories by Nescio
Amsterdam by Ian McEwen
The Coffee Trader by David Liss
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Amsterdam Episode 11 Food and Shopping

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:48:00 +0000

This episode in two halves starts with food in Amsterdam; the street snacks you’ll want to try, the Dutch specialities to look out for in restaurants and a brief introduction to the city’s favourite ethnic cuisine, namely Indonesian. If you don’t know your drop from your rijsttafel, help is at hand. After a brief word on bier and jenever (Dutch gin) and a look at the Heineken Experience and the city’s Brown Cafes, it’s time for shopping: a tour of the best markets and a visit to the two best areas for wandering, browsing and maybe making a purchase or two.

LINKS FOR THIS POST

Kaaskamer
Amsterdam Foodie guide to Indonesian restaurants
I love Amsterdam post on pancakes
Van Wonderen Stroopwafel
Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje
Café Chris
Café Hoppe
The Heineken Experience
I am Amsterdam post on the best breweries to visit in Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt
Waterlooplein Flea Market

Previous Episode Tulips and diamonds
Next Episode coming very soon.

Amsterdam Episode 10 Tulips and Diamonds

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:32:33 +0000

Tulips and diamonds: both figure centrally in the story of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known as the ‘flower shop of the world’ and a visit to Amsterdam’s flower market a must for any visit. Equally, you will surely want to explore Amsterdam’s heritage as the ‘City of Diamonds’. This episode brings a little background history on both topics, plus ideas for three places to visit to find out more.

Reading Suggestions
The Tulip by Anna Pavord
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Links for this post
The Tulip Museum
The Diamond Museum
Royal Coster Diamonds

Amsterdam Episode 09 Van Gogh, the Man and the Museum

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:17:58 +0000

This episode covers everything it's good to know before you visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: a brief biography of Vincent himself, followed by tips on what to look out for in the museum dedicated to his work. To finish, there are ideas for 3 more arty venues to visit in Amsterdam if you want to investigate the city's modern art and street art offerings.

Reading Suggestions
Van Gogh The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith
The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh The Complete Paintings by Ingo F. Walther and Rainer Metzger

Links for this post
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum
NDSM Loods
Straat Museum

Amsterdam Episode 08 Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Rijksmuseum

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:45:00 +0000

This episode revolves around Amsterdam's top art gallery, the Rijksmuseum. It starts with a little history, explaining how art came to be of such importance in Amsterdam's Golden Age in the 17th century, then continues with some biographical details on the two top artists from the era, Rembrandt and Vermeer. It finishes with pointers to some of their best-known works, plus ideas for other highlights to look out for when visiting the gallery.

Reading Suggestions
Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
Vermeer by Christopher Wright
Rijksmuseum guidebook

Links for this post
The Rijksmuseum
Rembrandt House Museum
Old World Voyages blog
Essential Vermeer
Simon Schama, Great Gallery Tours, the Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam Episode 07 Anne Frank and World War II in Amsterdam

Wed, 28 May 2025 19:06:12 +0000

This episode on World War II in Amsterdam looks at how 5 years of German occupation affected everyone living there and suggests places to visit to find out more. We start with the population in general and the Dutch Resistance Museum, then look at the plight of the city’s Jewish population before finishing with a section on Anne Frank: her story and the museum now operating in the building where she and her family lived in hiding for 25 months.

Reading Suggestions
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Dutch Resistance 1940-1945 by Klaas Kastlein and Michael Wenting

Links for this post
The Dutch Resistance Museum
The Hollandsche Schouwburg Memorial Site
The National Holocaust Museum
Anne Frank House

Amsterdam Episode 06 Jewish Amsterdam

Wed, 07 May 2025 17:02:00 +0000

This episode introduces Amsterdam's Jewish culture. There's a little historical context, beginning with the arrival of Jews fleeing from other parts of Europe in the 16th century and ending in today’s city where Jewish culture is centred around the Jewish Quarter. Then there's a description of some of the most significant places to visit, focussing especially on the Portugese Synagogue and the Jewish Museum. The holocaust will be dealt with in the next episode.

Links for this post

National Holocaust Museum
Hollandsche Schouwburg
Portuguese Synagogue
Jewish Museum

Amsterdam Episode 05 The Golden Age

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:22:00 +0000

This episode takes you to Amsterdam's Golden Age, the era when, as the Encyclopaedia Britannica puts it, ‘the little nation on the North Sea was one of the most powerful countries in the world, dominating the seas and flourishing in trade, science and – especially – the arts.' First there's a little history to explain how this phenomenon came about and what it meant for Amsterdammers and for the rest of the world, then we visit three different places in the city where you can find out more.

Reading Suggestions
The Embarrassment of Riches The Dutch Golden Age by Simon Schama
Amsterdam A Brief Life of the City by Geert Mak
Amsterdam A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto

Links for this post
Rembrandt House
Amsterdam Museum
Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam Episode 04 The Churches of Amsterdam

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:48:00 +0000

The churches of Amsterdam are not always what they seem. One is more of a national memorial, another is an art gallery and concert venue. A third is a museum where you can learn the story of the hidden churches which opened in the 17th century and where worshippers gathered for over 200 years. They key factor is a date – 1578 – when an event occurred which changed everything: the Alteration. This episode explains what happened and then tours half a dozen of the city’s churches and explains what you can expect to find if you visit them today.

Reading Suggestions
Amsterdam A Brief Life of the City by Geert Mak
Amsterdam A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto
The Invention of Amsterdam A History of the World’s Greatest City in 10 Walks by Ben Coates

Links for this post
The Begijnhof
The Oude Kerk
The Nieuwe Kerk

The Westerkerk
The Noorderkerk
St Nicholas
Our Lord in the Attic

Amsterdam Episode 03 The Canals of Amsterdam

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:02:00 +0000

The canals ARE Amsterdam and Amsterdam IS its canals. This episode is all about them, covering both the engineering genius which gave them their UNESCO World Heritage Site status and their beauty, charmingly different in each season. We bring you a little history, a little atmosphere and 4 suggestions for places to visit to find out more.

READING SUGGESTIONS
Amsterdam A Brief Life of the City by Geert Mak
Amsterdam A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto
The Invention of Amsterdam A History of the World’s Greatest City in 10 Walks by Ben Coates

LINKS FOR THIS POST
The Canal Museum
The Van Loon Museum
The Willet-Holthuysen Museum
The Houseboat Museum

Amsterdam Episode 02 5 Walks Around Amsterdam

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:53:00 +0000

Here are 5 suggestions for walks around Amsterdam. They include possible stopping places and between them they offer a way to see something of all of the main parts of the city. We give enough detail to follow the route if you take a map with you and a little info on the main places you’ll be passing, although we’ll be coming back to most of them in later episodes. None will take longer than an hour if you don’t stop anywhere. .

Links for this post

Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas
Anne Frank House
Royal Palace
Nieuw Kerk
The Houseboat Museum
Albert Cuyp Market
The Reijksmuseum
The Van Gogh Museum
The Stedelik Museum
MOCO
Hop on Hop off bus tours
Boat trips

Amsterdam Episode 01 Introduction

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:03:00 +0000

Welkom in Amsterdam! This introduction to our Amsterdam series brings you the basic facts - geographical, historical, cultural - which underpin everything. To capture the spirit of Amsterdam, here’s Russell Shorto’s description of the view from his Amsterdam window: ‘the little boats moored by the quay, the row of tilting, gabled buildings on the opposite bank and, on any given day, a couple of bicycles chained to the railing of a hump-backed bridge.’ So, let's go, or as the Dutch say ‘laten we gaan’.

Valletta Episode 08 Stories from Malta

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:19:00 +0000

This last episode on the Valletta series brings you lots of different stories from Malta. We start with a little descriptive writing, factual and fictional, followed by mini-biographies of 4 people who’ve featured in previous episodes but not really had the time they deserve: St Paul, St Publius, Caravaggio and Daphne Caruana Galizia, the high-profile journalist murdered for her stand against corruption in Malta. And to finish, some literary extracts, namely a mystery story set in Malta and 2 World War II love stories. In short, a whole range of new perspectives on Valletta and its surroundings.

Reading Suggestions

The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas Monserrat
Ladies of Lascaris by Paul McDonald
Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench
A Death in Malta by Paul Caruana Galizia
A Sunny Place for Shady People by Ryan Murdock

Links for this Post
Short Lets Malta blog

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Valletta series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Valletta Episode 07 Easy Days out from Valletta

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:01:00 +0000

Here are our ideas for easy days out from Valletta if you want to explore some of the rest of Malta. We start with the two most popular day trips, to the 3 Cities and to Mdina and Rabat, both very easy to do on public transport. Then we have a look at hop-on, hop-off bus tours and boat trips. You could spend a week in Valletta, you could just as easily spend a week doing day trips with Valletta as a base! Most likely, you’ll do a little of each and this episode will help you plan your excursions to other parts of the island.

The Inquisitor’s Palace
Malta at War Museum
St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
Carmelite Priory, Mdina
The Roman House, Rabat
St Paul’s Grotto, Rabat
St Paul’s Catacombs, Rabat
Hop-on Hop-off bus tours
Malta Boat Tours
Luzzu Cruises

Valletta Episode 06 Food and Festivities

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:53:00 +0000

This episode is dedicated to two topics which are very important in Malta - food and festivities. Malta has more public holidays – 14 – than most other European countries, plus a whole range of other feasts and festivals. Of course, food is key to most of them and so this episode introduces you to both. We cover the varied culinary offerings, influenced by so many centuries of foreign cultures coming to the island and then look at the equally expansive range of celebration days, religious, national and cultural. In short, plenty of fun!

Reading Suggestion
Taste of Malta by Anton B Dougall

Valletta Episode 05 Art, Architecture and Archaeology

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 17:11:00 +0000

This is a pot-pourri episode, beginning with a look at Valletta’s art scene: the National Art Gallery, 3 artists linked to the island and the oratory where the 2 most famous paintings are hidden away. Next, some pointers on the city’s architecture: typical design features and the three main periods, all of which are represented by buildings to look out for in Valletta today. Lastly, a trip to the National Museum of Archaeology, where you can learn lots about the island’s very distant past and pick up some tips to inform visits to the rest of the island.

Reading Suggestion
Seven Temples on Malta by Betsy Ross-Edison

Links for this post
The National Art Museum
The Grand Master’s Palace
St John’s Cathedral
The National Museum of Archaeology

Valletta Episode 04 Finding World War II in Valletta

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:02:00 +0000

There are traces of World War II everywhere in Valletta. This episode begins with a little history from the period and explains why the island of Malta was awarded the prestigious George Cross. Then we look at 3 museums which all take a different approach, covering the military action here on ‘Fortress Malta’ and also explaining what the war did to the daily lives of its people. We end with a look at some of Valletta’s memorials to this turbulent period, which are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other at the Floriana end of the city.

Reading Suggestions
Fortress Island Malta by Peter Jacobs
Ladies of Lascaris by Paul McDonald
Churchill and Malta’s War by Douglas Austin

Links for this post
National War Museum
Malta at War Museum
Lascaris War Rooms

Valletta Episode 03 Finding the Knights of Malta in Valletta

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:15:00 +0000

This episode gives a little history on the Knights of Malta and explains where to 'find' them in Valletta today. In fact they’re everywhere, not least in the Maltese Cross you'll keep seeing, on information panels everywhere and in the beautiful buildings they left behind. In fact, they founded the city of Valletta and built it from scratch - Europe's very first planned city.

Reading Suggestions
The Knights of Malta by Joseph Attard
The Shield and the Sword by Ernie Bradford

Links for this Episode
The Malta Experience and the Holy Infirmary
The Grand Master’s Palace
The Armoury
St John’s Cathedral

Valletta Episode 02 Three Walks around Valletta

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 17:05:00 +0000

Valletta is a very walkable city and this episode offers three walking routes for exploring it. They could be done in a day if you want to see all the main sights quickly, or you could spread them out over a few days, linger a little, go into some of the places we pass by and build up an in-depth knowledge of Malta's capital city. Take a street map with you and you should be able to follow the routes easily.

Reading Suggestions
The History of Malta by Nuria Rehn
Fortress Island Malta by Peter Jacobs
Ladies of Lascaris by Paul McDonald
A Death in Malta by Paul Caruana Galizia

Links for this post
Our Lady of Victories Church
The Grand Master’s Palace
The Armoury
St John’s Co-Cathedral
Fort St Elmo National War Museum

Valletta Episode 01 Introduction

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:18:00 +0000

Merħba il-Valletta: welcome to Valletta, the capital of Malta. Valletta is a World Heritage Site, small in scale, easy to explore and known for its stunning coastal views and gorgeous architecture. Here you can 'meet' such varied characters from history as St Paul, Caravaggio and the Knights of St John and learn some of the island's most inspiring stories: how Malta triumphed during the Great Siege of 1565 and why the island was awarded the George Cross during World War II.

This is the introduction to our Valletta series and the remaining 7 episodes will bring you all the background history and culture you need to really understand the city. In short, here is all the research you’d do yourself if only you had the time! See below for reading ideas and useful links.

Two useful websites for tourists
Visit Malta
Malta Uncovered

3 Guide Books
Pocket Rough Guide to Malta and Gozo
Lonely Planet Malta and Gozo
Eyewitness Top 10 Malta and Gozo

4 History Books
The History of Malta by Nuria Rehn
Fortress Island Malta by Peter Jacobs
Ladies of Lascaris by Paul McDonald
A Death in Malta by Paul Caruana Galizia

Maltese Cooking
Taste of Malta by Anton B Dougall

2 Novels set in Malta
The Kappillan of Malta by Nicholas Monserrat
Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench

Marseille Episode 10 A Marseille Anthology

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:47:00 +0000

Our Marseille Anthology includes some travel writing, plus a range of fiction pieces set in the city. Extracts include Simone de Beauvoir hiking in the surrounding countryside and Jean-Claude Izzo's description of the Italian immigrant community in Le Panier in the 1930s. The Count of Monte Cristo's daring escape from the Château d'If is here, as are a meal of boullabaisse in a waterside restaurant and a visit to the underwater caves where prehistoric man left artwork behind. There are even two passages which help explain why Marseille has sometimes been called 'the wicked city'.

Reading Suggestions
Wicked City by Nicholas Hewitt
Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo
Chourmo by Jean-Claude Izzo
Solea by Jean-Claude Izzo
Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
First Fingerprint, by Xavier-Marie Bonnot
The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayl

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Marseille series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Marseille Episode 09 In the Footsteps of Marcel Pagnol

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:25:00 +0000

The author and film-maker Marcel Pagnol is inextricably linked with Marseille – where he lived, set some of his early works and is buried – and with the Provencal countryside around the city. The area's garrigue landscape provides the backdrop to his popular autobiographical works, La Gloire de Mon Père (My Father's Glory) and Le Château de Ma Mère (My Mother's Castle) and is also the setting for his gripping novels, Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. This episode gives a little biographical information, an idea of where to ‘find’ him in the area today and some appetite-whetting snippets of his work.

Reading Suggestions

Autobiographical works
My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle (double volume)

3 Plays set in Marseille (in French)
Marius
Fanny
César

Two novels set in Provence
Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources (double volume)

Links for this post
Information on walks in Marcel Pagnol territory
Marcel Pagnol’s Birthplace
Aubagne Tourist Office
Le Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol
Village des Santons in Marseille
Guide to La Treille
Château de la Buzine

Marseille Episode 08 Food and Shopping

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:01:00 +0000

This post introduces you to two great pleasures in this Provencal city: Marseille food and Marseille shopping, beginning with the signature dishes and key ingredients of the city's cuisine, plus a few ideas on where to look for restaurants. Then, we outline key items to buy as souvenirs of Marseille, followed by a rundown of the city's main shopping areas and what you can expect to find in each one.

Reading Suggestions
Garlic, Mint and Sweet Basil by Jean-Claude Izzo
The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle

Links for this post

More Information
Foodie Guide to Marseille
Shopping in the Le Panier district
Eating out in the Le Panier district
Information on Cours Julien
Santons of Provence

Shops and places to visit
Bar de la Marine
Musee du Savon de Marseille de la Licorne
La Cure Gourmande
Olympique de Marseille Souvenir Shop
Torrefaction Noailles
Maison de la Boule
Maison Yellow
Santons Village in Aubagne

3 Santons shops in Marseille
Escoffier
Arterra
Marcel Carbonel

Marseille Episode 07 Boat Trips, Beaches and the Chateau d'If

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:02:00 +0000

Marseille boat trips – those words belong together. But beaches and the Château d’If are also great ideas for trips out from Marseille and so this episode covers all three. Then there are suggestions for other little excursions, to l’Estaque and Cassis, which both mix boating and arty vibes, plus a trip on a coastal train with views a-plenty and ideas for stopping off to explore. To finish, there's a little flavour of the Count of Monte Cristo’s daring – and fictional! – escape from the Château d’If.

Reading Suggestion
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Links
The Château d’If
The Calanques
How to get to the Calanques
Marseille’s Beaches
The Underwater Museum of Marseille
L’Estaque
Cassis
Cassis Museum of Art and Folk Traditions
More on visiting La Côte Bleu

Marseille Episode 06 Art in Marseille

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:04:00 +0000

This episode covers two main Marseille art galleries, the Musée des Beaux Arts and Regards de Provence, and focuses particularly on work on local themes - Marseille itself, and the provençal hinterland. Then there are pointers to 4 more galleries in the city, featuring ethnic, modern and decorative arts, plus a little coverage of some of the most famous artists associated with Marseille: Pierre Puget, César Baldaccinni and Paul Cézanne. Lastly, a reminder that in in this city, art often means street art!

Links for this post

Musée des Beaux Arts
Regards de Provence
Vieille Charité
Musée Cantini
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Decorative Arts

Marseille Episode 05 La Joliette, the Mucem and the Cosquer Museum

Wed, 01 May 2024 17:02:00 +0000

This post takes you around La Joliette, the new port area in Marseille and looks at what there is to do there. That includes the city’s two newest must-see museums – one gives you a tour of Mediterranean culture, the other takes you on a virtual exploration of the incredible caves discovered nearby, where the artwork dates back 30,000 years. We also find time for plenty of shopping, eating and culture in both historic and ultra-modern settings, all with a magnificent sea-view backdrop.

Reading Suggestions
Marseille et le Mucem (French only)
Cosquer Méditerrannée (French only)

Links for this post
Guide to La Joliette
The Mucem
The Cosquer Museum
Guide to Les Terrasses du Port
Guide to Les Docks

Marseille Episode 04 The Le Panier District

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:02:00 +0000

This post focuses on the Le Panier district of Marseille, the oldest and most atmospheric part of the city: think hills, narrow roads, colourful houses, flowers, little restaurants in pretty squares, artisan shops and plenty of street art. Plus two of the city’s big sights, La Charité, the former poorhouse, now a museum centre and the stunning 'Major' Cathedral. As the author Jean -Claude Izzo wrote. ‘To linger in Le Panier is to feel the old heart of Marseille throbbing’.

Reading Suggestions

Garlic, Mint and Sweet Basil by Jean-Claude Izzo
The Marseille Caper by Peter Mayle

Links for this post

Self guided walk around Le Panier
La Vieille Charité
La Major Cathedral
Discover Street Art in Marseille
Blogpost: Street Art and Charm in Le Panier

Marseille Episode 03 The Old Port, the Canebiere and Notre Dame de la Garde

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:11:00 +0000

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:25:00 +0000

This post introduces 3 Bordeaux art galleries, the long-standing Museum des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), the always surprising Musée des Arts Contemporains (Museum of Modern Art) and the Bassin des Lumières, France’s largest digital art gallery where parts of the World War II submarine base have been re-purposed to provide a new way of enjoying art in an unexpected setting. And finally, a little about the Bordeaux-born artist, Rosa Bonheur, 19th century animal painter extraordinaire who has recently been enjoying something of a renaissance.

Reading Suggestion
Rosa Bonheur by Sandrine Andrews (in French)

Useful Links
Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts
Bordeaux Museum of Contemporary Art
Bassins des Lumières

Bordeaux Episode 06 Wine in Bordeaux

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 17:38:00 +0000

Bordeaux wine – could two words be more inextricably linked? No, said the author Henry James: ‘Bordeaux is dedicated to the worship of Bacchus’. This post gives a little background, then focuses on where in the city to find out all about this most important product, whether than is learning about it, buying it, drinking it. We finish with 5 quirky reading ideas, everything from a great wine scandal to what Samuel Pepys thought about Bordeaux wine.

Reading Suggestions

From Bordeaux to the Stars by Jean-Michel Cazes
On Bordeaux Tales from the World's Greatest Wine Region by Jane Anson
The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide 150 years from 1870 to 2020 by Neal Martin
The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace
The Bordeaux Club by Neil McKendrick

Links for this post

Self guided wine walk around Bordeaux
2nd wine walk around Bordeaux
L'Intendant Bordeaux's best wine shop
Cite du vin Huge museum on everything to do with wine
9 km self-guided bike tour of Bordeaux's vineyards
23 km self-guided bike tour of Bordeaux's vineyards
30 km self-guided bike tour of Bordeaux's vineyards
Vineyards you can reach by public transport
Top pick of vineyards and chateaux to visit
Guided tours of vineyards outside Bordeaux
Maison du Vin wine-tasting, courses, etc
20 wine bars to visit in Bordeaux
Reviews of 2 Bordeaux wine bars
Bordeaux Wine Festival 4 days in June
Chartrons Wine Festival 2 days in October

Bordeaux Episode 05 Finding World War II in Bordeaux Today

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 18:06:00 +0000

Strolling through Bordeaux today, you can be largely unaware of the fascinating story of the city under German Occupation between 1940 and 1944. This episode recounts a little of the history and highlights three places to visit in the city today to find out more. Prepare for tales of hardship, persecution, courage, betrayal, resistance and, eventually, liberation.

Reading Suggestions
Life in Bordeaux under the Occupation by Jane Anson
Jewish Fates in Bordeaux during the 2nd World War
Game of Spies by Paddy Ashdown
Histoire de Bordeaux by Madeleine Lassère (French only)

Useful Links
Bassins à Flot
Bassins des Lumières
Great Synagogue of Bordeaux

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website for the blogpost accompanying this episode, to find more episodes from our Bordeaux series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Bordeaux Episode 04 Riverside Heritage

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:17:00 +0000

This post is all about Bordeaux's riverside heritage. We’ll be looking at a number of museums which explore the links between Bordeaux, the River Garonne and its trading prosperity, including the dark stain of slavery and how that is remembered in the city today. We end with ideas for the many ways to enjoy the riverside in Bordeaux, plus ideas for exploring the Gironde Estuary and its unique history and wildlife more widely.

Useful Links
Musée d’Aquitaine
Museum of Bordeaux Maritime History
Wine and Trade Museum
National Customs Museum
Museum of the Sea and Marine Life
Tour of the Bridges Walk (self-guided)
Bordeaux Tourist Office: ideas for enjoying the River Garonne
Boat Trips on the Garonne
Bordeaux Tourist Office: Visiting the Gironde Estuary

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Bordeaux series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Bordeaux Episode 03 Roman and Medieval Bordeaux

Wed, 03 May 2023 17:30:00 +0000

This episode 'visits' the Bordeaux of two important past eras: the Roman and the medieval. A little history, plus lots of ideas for places to visit today: the remains of a Roman amphitheatre, turretted towers and the churches which became stopping points on the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela. Plus, of course, the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Reading Suggestions

Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick

Links for this post

The Musée d’Aquitaine
The Palais Galien
The Grosse Cloche
The Porte Cailhau
Saint Seurin Church
Saint André Cathedral
Saint Michel Church

Bordeaux Episode 02 A Stroll around Central Bordeaux

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:40:44 +0000

This episode takes you on a stroll through central Bordeaux, introducing the highlights and giving a little background history. Key moments from the past include a 12th century royal wedding and the demise of revolutionary heroes who died for Republican values. The architectural highlights include medieval turrets, 18th century mansions and a quayside 21st century stunner.

Reading Suggestion
Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

Useful Links
Tour of Grand Théâtre
Tickets for the Grand Théâtre
Book ahead to climb the Tour Pey-Berland
Musée d’Aquitaine
The Grosse Cloche
The Porte Cailhau

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Berlin series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Bordeaux Episode 01 Introduction

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:07:00 +0000

Bienvenue à Bordeaux. Welcome to Bordeaux. This relaxed, elegant city is famous for its wine, for its delightful riverside quays and for its layers of history from Roman remains and medieval towers to 21st century stunners like the Miroir d’Eau and the Cité du Vin. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a centre of gastronomy and culture. This introductory episode will help you get your bearings and pick up the basic facts which underpin everything. As the French say, 'On y va!' - Let's go!

2 useful websites
Bordeaux Tourist Office
Visit Bordeaux

2 Guide Books
Lonely Planet Pocket Bordeaux
Bordeaux France by P G Preston

Berlin Episode 18 Novels set in Berlin

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 11:47:34 +0000

Eight inspirational ideas for novels set in Berlin, all of which bring their own distinctive view of the city. Read them to inform an upcoming trip, to reminisce about the Berlin you have visited or simply to see the city from lots of different perspectives.

Useful Links
The 8 featured novels
Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane
The Luminous Life of Lily Aphrodite by Beatrice Collin
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada
Fatherland by Robert Harris
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré
Friedrichstrasse 19 by Emma Harding
Book of Clouds by Chloe Aridjis

2 Berlin anthologies
City Lit Berlin Edited by Heather Reyes
Berlin, A Literary Guide for Travellers by Paul Sullivan and Marcel Krueger

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 17 Writers on Berlin

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 18:23:00 +0000

We open with some quotes on Berlin from the likes of David Bowie ('the greatest cultural extravaganza anyone could imagine') and Nikita Khrushchev ('the testicle of the west'), then follows the main content: reviews of 4 non-fiction books which tell the story of Berlin and its residents from different angles. They include a family history, the history of a house, an escape story and an investigation into the inner workings of East Germany.

Reading for this post

The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding
Stasiland by Anna Funder
Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman
Red Love by Maxim Leo

Two Berlin Anthologies
City Lit Berlin Edited by Heather Reyes
Berlin, A Traveller's Guide by Paul Sullivan and Marcel Krueger

Tourist Information
Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 16 A Day at the Lakes

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 18:18:00 +0000

Ideas for a day trip from Berlin to Lake Wannsee, where Berliners love to swim and enjoy the lakeside beach and surrounding forest. Plus what to visit nearby - an exotic island, a couple of royal castles, an artist's hideaway, a villa steeped in WW2 history and the real Bridge of Spies. Maybe you need longer than a day to visit, but you can get all the info here in under half an hour!

Useful Links
Lake Wannsee Lido
Peacock Island Castle
Glienicke Palace
Glienicke Bridge (The Bridge of Spies)
Wannsee Conference House
Max Liebermann House

Lakes mentioned
Wannsee - Dämeritzsee - Schlachtensee - Müggelsee - Tegeler See

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 15 The Palace of Charlottenburg

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 18:40:00 +0000

A visit to Charlottenburg, once the summer palace of the Hohenzollerns who ruled Prussia for 5 centuries. Tips on what to look out for, plus stories of those connected with it: Sophie Charlotte, for whom the original palace was built, Frederick the Great who built a fancy new wing, and the popular Queen Luisa, around whom court life revolved in the early 19th century.

Reading suggestion
Frederick the Great: King of Prussia by Tim Blanning

Useful links
Charlottenburg Old Palace

Charlottenburg Palace New Wing

Charlottenburg Palace New Pavilion

Charlottenburg Palace Belvedere

Charlottenburg Palace Mausoleum

Charlottenburg Palace Gardens

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 14 Jewish Culture in Berlin

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 17:16:33 +0000

Jewish culture in Berlin goes back hundreds of years and we visit the places where you can discover it. The New Synagogue, also known as the Centrum Judaicum, and the Jewish Museum are the two main centres of Jewish heritage in the city today, but there are others too, plus Jewish cemeteries and memorials and two ideas for guided walking tours.

Reading suggestions
The Wandering Jews by Joseph Roth
Jews in Berlin by Andreas Nachama

Useful links
The New Synagogue
The Jewish Museum
The Old Jewish Cemetery
The Jewish Cemetery
The Otto Weidt Museum
Walking Tour Discovering Traces of Jewish Life
Walking Tour Jewish Berlin Heritage Tour

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 13 Film and Cinema

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 18:36:00 +0000

An exploration of Berlin as a city of film and cinema. Two museums, a look back at Berlin cinema history and a visit to the Berlinale, the city's annual highly influential film festival. Plus tips on which Berlin cinemas to try out and suggestions for films set in Berlin, some German language (available with English subtitles) and some in English.

Film suggestions In German (all available with English subtitles)
The Blue Angel
Wings of Desire
Run Lola Run
Goodbye, Lenin
Downfall
The Lives of Others

In English
Cabaret
Bridge of Spies
Alone in Berlin

Useful links
The Museum for Film and Television
The Film Park Babelsberg
Berlinale Festival Programme
General Information on Berlin Cinemas
CinemaxX
Odeon
Kulturbrauererei Cinema
Spandau Open Air Cinema

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 12 Music and Theatre

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:47:00 +0000

Fancy adding a theatre or concert visit to your Berlin itinerary? Here's a look at music in Berlin, with snippets of history, from Frederick the Great to Marlene Dietrich, plus a rundown of the main venues where you'll find all best concerts, operas and musicals. Then, an overview of theatre in Berlin, and advice on finding performances to enjoy even if you don't speak German.

Useful links

Music
Concert halls (general info)
Konzerthaus
Berlin Philharmonic
Residenzkonzerte at Charlottenburg
Opera in Berlin (general info)
Deutsche Oper
Statsoper Unter den Linden
Komische Oper
Neukollnischer Oper

Theatre
Theatre (general info)
Deutsches Theater
Theater des Westens
Friedrichspalast

General
Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 11 More Berlin Art

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:21:00 +0000

There’s so much more to art in Berlin than the Top 3 Galleries from our last episode. So here’s a look at an artist who has a museum dedicated to her (Käthe Kollwitz), a 20th century art movement with strong links to Berlin (Bauhaus) and the best of the rest: where to find specialist galleries, modern art and street art in Berlin.

Useful links
Käthe Kollwitz Museum Selection of work by Käthe Kollwitz

Bauhaus Archive Museum
Selection of Bauhaus work to view online

More galleries
Akademie der Künste
Asian Art gallery in the Humboldt Forum
The Brücke Museum in Dahlem
The Georg Kolbe Museum

Modern Art
The Hamburger Bahnhof
KINDL, the Centre for Contemporary Art
The KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Berlinische Galerie

Street Art
Visit Berlin information on street art
11 ideas for street art tours in Berlin

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 10 Berlin’s Top 3 Art Galleries

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:02:00 +0000

There are so many art galleries in Berlin that it's difficult to choose which to visit. We provide a run-down of the top three in this episode and save the best of the rest for next time! So here's what you need to know about the Gemäldegalerie, the Alte Nationalgalerie and the Neue Nationalgalerie which between them cover everything from the Middle Ages to post World War 2.

Useful links
Gemäldegalerie
Alte Nationalgalerie
Neue Nationalgalerie

Berlin Tourist Information Offices
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 09 In Search of East Berlin

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:37:00 +0000

What has happened to the GDR (German Democratic Republic), the country which was created when the Berlin Wall went up and which then disappeared when it came down? What was life in East Berlin like between August 1961 and November 1989? And where in today’s Berlin can you find out all about it? Here are three museum suggestions, plus a little of what they tell us.

Reading suggestions for this post
Red Love by Maxim Leo
Stasiland by Anna Funder
The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding

Film suggestions
The Lives of Others
Goodbye, Lenin

Useful links
The DDR Museum
The Stasi Museum
Hohenschonhausen Museum and Memorial

Berlin Tourist Information Centres
Inspiring Germany Tourist Information

Berlin Episode 08 In Search of the Berlin Wall

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 18:29:00 +0000

The story of the Berlin Wall will always fascinate. And here it is, along with ideas for three places in Berlin you can visit to see the remaining sections and find out more. Author Rory MacLean summed up the impact first seeing the wall had on him: 'At the heart of the continent were watchtowers, barbed wire and border guards, instructed to shoot fellow citizens who wanted to live under a different government.’

Reading Suggestions
Berlin: Imagine a City by Rory MacLean
Berlin Biography of a City by Barney White-Spunner
Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman

Links

Checkpoint Charlie
Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Berlin Wall Memorial Site
East Side Gallery
Guided tours of the East Side Gallery: either this one or this one

General links
Berlin Tourist Information Centres
Germany Travel Information

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!

Check our website to find more episodes from our Berlin series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Berlin Episode 07 Holocaust and Remembrance

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:45:00 +0000

The Holocaust Memorial is deliberately sited right in the heart of Berlin because this is a city which does all it can to make sure the horrors of the holocaust are understood by each new generation. This episode begins with the main facts, then focuses on the places you can visit in Berlin today to learn more and to remember the victims, collectively and, in many cases, also as individuals.

Reading suggestions
Jewish Girl in Wartime Berlin by Inge Deutschkron
The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding
Book of Clouds by Chloe Aridjis

Useful links
https://www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de/ Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
https://www.museum-blindenwerkstatt.de/de/mbow/
https://www.annefrank.de/
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/block-women
https://www.stolpersteine-berlin.de/en/finding-stolpersteine

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 06 Finding World War 2 in Berlin today

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 17:36:00 +0000

On this episode, we take a tour of places in Berlin connected to World War 2; the square where the Nazis burned books, the stadium where they held their showpiece Olympics in 1936, the sites of their HQ and of Hitler's bunker and the museums which tell tell the story of war, devastation and resistance. A little history and a lot of tips on what to look out for on a visit.

Reading
Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmes

Useful links
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/deutsches-historisches-museum
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/book-burning-memorial-bebelplatz
https://olympiastadion.berlin/en/guided-tours/
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/topography-terror
https://www.life.com/history/after-the-fall-photos-of-hitlers-bunker-and-the-ruins-of-berlin/
https://www.gdw-berlin.de/en/home/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 05 Four Berlin Squares

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 18:21:00 +0000

A tour of four main squares in Berlin: a little history and tips on what to look out for in each. Baroque beauty in Gendarmenmarkt, the book-burning memorial on Bebelplatz, finding the old East Germany at Alexanderplatz and lastly Potsdamer Platz, the heart of pre-war Berlin which is now an architectural showpiece, and a shopping and cultural hub.

Useful links
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/franzosischer-dom-french-cathedral
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/deutscher-dom
https://www.konzerthaus.de/de/
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/bebelplatz
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/st-hedwigs-kathedrale
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-television-tower
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/marienkirche
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/potsdamer-platz
http://qrcobble.com/en/one-of-the-most-innovative-berlin-attraction/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 04 The Tiergarten and the Ku’Damm

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 18:29:00 +0000

There might be fewer 'must-sees' in the western half of Berlin than further east, but they are winners: a glorious park which began life as a 16th century royal hunting ground and is today the green heart of everyone's Berlin; and a fascinating church, rebuilt after the devastation of World War II, combining the remains with a beautiful new church, forming both a memorial of reconciliation and a modern place of worship. Oh, and the city's very classiest department store. We guide you round the area and fill in the history and culture which will enhance your visit.

Useful links

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/tiergarten
https://www.berlin.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/3560160-3558930-siegessaeule.html (Victory Column)
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/kaiser-wilhelm-memorial-church
https://www.zoo-berlin.de/en

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 03 Unter den Linden

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 18:40:00 +0000

A wander down Berlin's most elegant street, Unter den Linden, to see its baroque splendour, its iconic buildings - think cathedrals, the opera house and the poignant war memorial, the Neue Wache - and maybe visit a museum or two on an island which is packed full of antiquities and art. Here is a little history, plus lots of tips on how to make the most of a day here in the heart of Berlin.

Useful links

https://www.berlinerdom.de (Berlin Cathedral)
https://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en (The State Opera Unter den Linden)
https://www.hedwigs-kathedrale.de (St Hedwig's Cathedral)
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/neue-wache-memorial (War Memorial)
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/museumsinsel-berlin/home (Museum Island)
https://www.humboldtforum.org/en (Humboldt Forum)
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 02 The Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:30:00 +0000

On a first trip to Berlin you'll probably head straight for the Parliament or the Brandenburg Gate. We're doing the same, and handily, they are close together and near to lots of other top sites. We bring you a little history to explain why these two iconic monuments represent everything dear to today's Berliners - lessons from history and the freedom enjoyed in the capital today - and explain what to look out for when you visit.

Reading
Berlin, the Story of a City by Barney White-Spunner

Useful links
https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Berlin Episode 01 Introduction

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:25:00 +0000

There's nowhere like Berlin. A turbulent history, an unrivalled cultural richness, green and modern and laid back all at once, truly a city break destination with plenty for everyone. Here is an overview of the series, offering some geographical, historical and cultural details to set the scene for the remaining 19 episodes when we will tour all the main sites, telling you the stories behind them and bringing them to life.

Reading
City Lit Berlin edited by Heather Reyes Berlin, A Literary Guide for Travellers by Paul Sullivan and Marcel Krueger

Useful links
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-tourist-info-centres
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html

Edinburgh Episode 16 Anthology

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:27:00 +0000

A tour of Edinburgh through the eyes of the travellers, poets and novelists who captured its essence. London, compared to Edinburgh, wrote Charlotte Bronte, is as 'prose compared to poetry.' Well, we bring you lots of both, from centuries past and right up to the present day.

Useful links:

https://edinburgh.org

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!
Check our website to find more episodes from our Edinburgh series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Edinburgh Episode 15 Food

Wed, 04 May 2022 18:30:00 +0000

A chance to dream of wonderful Scottish produce (think highland beef, Scottish salmon, raspberries), to unravel some mysteries (What are rumbledethumps? Or clootie dumplings?), to discover what’s in Scotch broth and what Burns wrote in his ‘Address to a Haggis’ and to reminisce about a proper Edinburgh afternoon tea in the 1920s. We may even mention the deep-fried Mars bar.

Useful links:

https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com

https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-gb/visit-us-princes-street

https://edinburgh.org

Edinburgh Episode 14 Art

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:55:00 +0000

A tour of Edinburgh's galleries and a chance to get to know some of Scotland's best-known artists and paintings. That includes portraits of royalty and Enlightenment thinkers, plus the great and the good from more recent times: Sir Chris Hoy, Ian Rankin, Muriels Spark and Gray. We also cover Scottish landscape painting and scenes from rural life in the past: Pitlessie Fair, Neil Gow, (18th century touring fiddler extraordinaire), an ice-skating vicar and The Monarch of the Glen.

Useful links:

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-portrait-gallery

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery-modern-art

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/city-art-centre

https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-queens-gallery-palace-of-holyroodhouse

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/georgian-house

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 18:39:00 +0000

This is our round-up of Edinburgh's history museums. We point you towards lots of goodies; the original National Covenant document, (4000 signatures opposing Charles I and his liturgical reforms), the dog collar and feeding bowl which belonged to Greyfriar's Bobby, the Lewis chess pieces, the Democracy for Scotland tent ..... Or maybe you just want to hear about the wealth of medical horrors and intrigues at the city's two medical museums. It's all here.

Useful links

https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/museum-edinburgh

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/peoples-story-museum

https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/auld-reekie-retold

https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk

https://www.ed.ac.uk/visit/museums-galleries/anatomical

https://edinburgh.org

Edinburgh Episode 08 Parks and Walks

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:20:00 +0000

Suggested walks, starting in the Old Town, with tales from Cowgate and the Grassmarket, Greyfriar's Bobby and J K Rowling's Hogwarts. In the New Town, plenty more squares, circuses and crescents and some idyllic detours, north through Stockbridge to the Botanic Gardens or west into Dean Village. There's Dorothy Wordsworth on Arthur's Seat, the explanation for 'Scotland's disgrace' on Calton Hill and a 'Democracy Trail' around sights of political and historical significance.

Recommended reading
Scotland's Democracy Trail by Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith

Useful links

https://www.introducingedinburgh.com/princes-street-gardens

https://www.rbge.org.uk (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)

https://edinburgh.org

https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh

Update January 2022

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 22:43:14 +0000

Update: From now on, City Breaks episodes will go out on a fortnightly basis. Episode 08 of the Edinburgh series will be made available next week, on January 26th and the remainder of the Edinburgh series will follow at two week intervals. The Edinburgh series will be followed by a new, as yet, mystery series. Suggestions welcome! You can e mail us at: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk

www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

Edinburgh Episode 07 Two Scottish Parliaments

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:03:00 +0000

The highlight of this episode is a visit to the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. But first, the colourful story of who ruled Scotland over the centuries, the Scottish kings, the ongoing tussles with England, the Act of Union and subsequent rebellions and finally the Scotland Act of 1998 which led to the founding of the new parliament where a speaker could proudly announce that 'the Scottish Parliament, which adjourned on the 25th March 1707, is reconvened.'

Recommended read
Scotland's Democracy Trail by Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith

Useful links
https://www.parliament.scot

https://www.parliament.scot/visit/virtual-tour

https://edinburgh.org

City Break Ideas Episode 20

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:28:00 +0000

Four travel bloggers share their inspirational city break ideas, covering everything from the quirky to the practical. The seven cities featured range over three continents, including cycling the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and making the most of Bangkok's markets, not forgetting five historical gems from Europe. Something, we hope, for every taste and budget. Have a listen!

Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk

This week's guest websites

https://sandinmysuitcase.com

https://www.letsgosomewhereelse.co.uk

https://www.theglobetrottingteacher.com

https://www.strayidler.com/home_en.html

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:26:00 +0000

A stroll through the history of Edinburgh Castle takes in kings and sieges, feasting, battles, murders and plots. There are plenty of tales of capture and recapture, of English invaders and rival Scottish clans. Find out too what to look out for when you visit the castle today, including The Great Hall, built by James IV to host feasts and celebrations, the little room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James, born to reign over both Scotland and England, and ancient treasures like the Stone of Scone and the Scottish Crown Jewels.

Useful links

https://www.edinburghcastle.scot

https://edinburgh.org

https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk/edinburgh

Edinburgh Episode 01 Introduction

City Break Ideas Episode 18

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:35:00 +0000

Three great travel bloggers share their city break ideas with us: we explore the world from Athens to Kochi and the alphabet from Auckland to Vilnius, taking in Funchal and Seattle on the way and all with lots of ideas for what to see, do, eat and drink along the way. Have a listen and be inspired.

Useful links
our website: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk
to find us on twitter: @citybreakscast
to e-mail us: citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk

This week's guest websites

https://www.albomadventures.com

https://roadsandrunways.co.uk

https://www.packthesuitcases.com

Florence Extra 04 Dante and The Divine Comedy

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:12:00 +0000

Part 2 of our interview with Andrea Giordani from Feel Florence, the city's official tourism website, in which he takes us on a journey through some of the highlights of Italy's best-known literary work, The Divine Comedy by the 14th century Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri. 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of Dante's death and so now is the perfect time to get to know more about him and all the reasons why he is so famous, in Florence, in Italy and worldwide.

useful links