Germany’s world of gardens

SOUTH-WEST #GERMANY'S state heritage agency, Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg, offers a fresh take on its many cultural sites. 

This year's theme is Welt der Gärten – The World of Gardens – inviting visitors to explore and enjoy gardens that are at the peak of their splendour. Historic monasteries in Baden-Württemberg are also celebrating their own special day, Erlebnistag im Kloster, on October 9. The agency’s 2016 programme offers visitors a wide range of opportunities to experience its palaces, castles, monasteries, and gardens first-hand.

Schwetzingen Palace: The renovation of Schwetzingen Palace's exterior has been completed, restoring it to its full 18th century splendour. Meanwhile, work on the interior is ongoing. The palace museum will re-open, with its original furnishings, in late summer 2016.

Up-to-date information on all the tours is available at www.schloesser-und-gaerten.de

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Picture Credit: www.schloesser-und-gaerten-de

Germany’s top attractions

WHEN thousands of international visitors from 40 countries have voted online to decide Germany's Top 100 attractions, South-West #Germany took the No l spot, and had a total of five in the top 11. 

Here are three of them:

Europa-Park – Germany’s largest theme park – in Baden-Württemberg was voted the best attraction. Visitors in December will see thousands of Christmas trees throughout its 13 European-themed areas. 

With eight Michelin stars, the Black Forest village of Baiersbronn claims to be Germany's culinary capital.

Baden-Württemberg has 60 palaces, castles, and monasteries, many of which are become backdrops for traditional Christmas markets, one of the best of which is at Schloss Bruchsal.

There are bonfires, plus guides who lead tours of the 18th century palace. 

There are daily flights to Stuttgart Airport from Birmingham, London Heathrow, and Gatwick, and frequent flights from Manchester and London Stansted. 

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69460501@N04/16414500499">Bad Urach, Residenz Schloss</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)

Genoa’s palaces open their doors

LIGURIA'S historic city of #Genoa is to offer visitors exclusive access to its palaces from with a special 'Rolli' weekend (September 18-20). The 42 palaces in Genoa's centre – which are collectively known as the #PalazzideiRolli – will have their doors opened over the weekend. A ‘Rolli' weekend in May this year attracted 100,000 visitors in four days.

Special first time openings include the 14th century Palazzo Nicola Grimaldi, a private property usually closed to the public. Also opening to the public for the first time is Villa Pallavicino “delle Peschiere”. Built – like many of the palaces, in the 16th century – the house is one of the better preserved examples of Genoese villas with highlights including its terraced garden, a typical Genoese black and white mosaic flooring known as 'risseu', and fresco cycles.

www.visitgenoa.it/en/evento/rolli-days-september-2015

www.visitgenoa.it

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Picture Credit: "Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi 08" by Superchilum - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palazzo_Carrega-Cataldi_08.JPG#/media/File:Palazzo_Carrega-Cataldi_08.JPG

Take Afternoon Tea at the Treasure Houses of England

ENJOY the English tradition of Afternoon Tea in the finest houses, castles, and palaces in England.

Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire: The quintessential English tradition of Afternoon Tea is said to have been started around 1840 by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, who entertained her friends in the Blue Drawing Room at Woburn Abbey. 

Visitors today can experience Afternoon Tea at Woburn at the Duchess' Tea Room or at the estate's hotel in the village.

Burghley House, Lincolnshire: Have tea in Capability Brown's Orangery restaurant overlooking the topiary in the South Gardens. 

Beaulieu, Hampshire: Try Afternoon Tea with a wide selection of cakes and pastries all baked in-house in the Brabazon coffee shop and restaurant. Some of the produce comes from Lord Montagu's Victorian Kitchen garden.

Hatfield House, Hertfordshire: Take tea to dizzy heights with Hatfield's Helicopter Discovery Tour, an eight-mile helicopter flight over the estate followed by a cream tea at the house.

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire: From traditional sponge cake and scones with jam and cream to golden flapjack and caramel shortbread, try afternoon treat at one of Castle Howard's cafés.

Leeds Castle, Kent: Cream teas are served the 17th century oak-beamed Fairfax Restaurant or on the terrace overlooking the castle.

www.treasurehouses.co.uk


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Picture Credit: Richard Edward Miller - Afternoon Tea by Richard Edward Miller - http://www.pinterest.com/jloonvan/richard-edward-miller/. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, Afternoon tea at Windsor Armsby ~Bani~ - Afternoon tea at Windsor Arms. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Tudors on tour

HENRY VIII and his court will be taking up residence at Tatton Park, Cheshire, over May Bank Holiday weekend (May 2-4) as part of an outdoor family festival … Tudors on Tour.

Staged for the first time outside London by Historic Royal Palaces, Tudors on Tour will take visitors back 1526, when the Henry VIII would travel around the country staying in castles and manor houses. 

There will be a jousting tournament, pageantry displays, a market place, costumed characters, food, and a Tudor theatre.

(Advanced tickets) Family - £30; Adult - £12.50; Child - £6.00; Concessions - £10 

(Gate tickets) Family - £40; Adult - £16.50; Child - £7.50; Concessions - £13.

www.hrp.org.uk/tudorsontour


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Picture Credit:Courtesy hrp.org.uk/tudorsontour; 'Modern-Knight' by David Ball derivative work via Wikimedia Commons