LUXEMBOURG at Christmas



Luxembourg is a great place to visit any time of year, but there is a very special atmosphere at the Christmas markets in December. They are quite extensive for such a small place and on a cold winter’s night when all the other shops are closed, it is comforting to know that you can wonder about till late, soak-up the ambience, try the local specialities and warm yourself up with a cup of spicy mulled wine.

 

ANNECY, Haute-Savoie, FRANCE

Set amidst magnificent mountains at the side of a beautiful lake, its picturesque old town and its canals - what can I say: it seems that Annecy has it all. But, to quote a phrase, call a place paradise, kiss it goodbye! Sadly, the town has become a victim of its own success, its centre - so swamped with tourists, that wandering about the narrow old streets is not just far from pleasurable, but becomes a real challenge.

The lake

By night

The old town

The castle

AOSTA, ITALY

There is more to Aosta than the ham that it is known for these days. Strategically located at the crossroads between the Great and the Little St. Bernard passes in the  Alps, the ancient Romans deemed it important enough to found a military camp here called Augusta Praetoria Salassorum,   and to turn it into a provincial capital. During its rather chequered history it retained its position as the principal city in the Aosta valley, at an easy distance both from the Mount Blanc tunnel and the city of Turin. Aosta is worth visiting not just for its historical heritage, but also to enjoy the ambience of this archetypal Italian city.

Cathedral

Augusta Praetoria, Cryptoporticus

Aosta town-hall, Chanoux square

Rueil-Malmaison, France

 

Associated forever with Mme Rose de Beauharnais, otherwise known as Empress Joséphine, the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, Château de Malmaison  is situated in the commune of Rueil-Malmaison, just outside Paris (about 12 km from the centre of the French capital). Malmaison (a name first documented in 1244), signifies a house of some notoriety; it seems that for a time it was a bandits lair, a den of Norman invaders who carried out raids on the surrounding area. Despite its unfortunate name however, a fabulous destine befell this humble manor house. Joséphine acquired it in 1799, while her husband was away on his Egyptian campaign, and between 1800 and 1802 the little chateau became, together with the Tuileries, the headquarters of the French government where the Consulate ministers met frequently.  After the divorce of the imperial couple in 1809, Napoleon bequeathed this property to Joséphine together with all its treasures and she lived there till the end of her life.

Château de Malmaison

Château de Malmaison, seen from the landscape garden

The room of Empress Joséphine decorated like a tent with her bed where she died in 1814



Pendulum Clock "The chariots of Telemachus"

 

AMBOISE, FRANCE

Amboise

Amboise - view from Clos-Lucé towards the Royal Chateau

The Royal Chateau of Amboise

Clos-Lucé

The royal château of Amboise looks striking, especially when first seen from across the River Loire. Notwithstanding the ravages of time, its turbulent history, the demolition of a significant part of it at one point of its existence, what’s left of it is still worth seeing. High above the great river, it offers superb views of the surrounding area, just one of the reasons why it was such a favourite with the French royalty during the Renaissance.

Clos-Lucé, the more modest abode of Leonardo da Vinci during his sojourn in France is within easy reach, very convenient for the frequent visits of his royal patron, King François I. In fact the King spent a considerable period of his childhood at Clos-Lucé, together with his mother and sister. Clos-Lucé houses numerous models based on the sketches of Leonardo, but the great man himself is buried in the Chapel St. Hubert, in the grounds of the royal chateau of Amboise.  

PISA, ITALY

Piazza del Duomo or otherwise known as Piazza dei Miracoli, a moniker it owes to the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and deservedly so.

When I first saw it at sunset, the green lawn appeared as a theatre stage and the exquisite group of buildings in the middle of it – some very elaborate set design. It all looked unreal and the buildings – so delicate as if made of porcelain. And yet they have withstood the vagaries of time, which in itself is a miracle!

Piazza dei Miracoli


 

Torre pendente di Pisa







 

Torre pendente di Pisa
St. Patrick's Day

Camposanto

 

Duomo
Interior