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Le Havre Culture France

Allgemein, Englisch, Frankreich, , ,

From a social point of view, the nearness of the sea helps create open-mindedness and friendship. In fact, the warmth and hospitality of Le Havre’s inhabitants is a well-known phenomenon. Le Havre is also home to a variety of different communities and cultural traditions.

The sea front, beach and docks are an integral part of the city: in fact, the estuary and harbour give Le Havre its identity. Nearly 2 000 feet of the mile-long beach belong to the Le Havre commune. The yachting harbour is situated in the town centre and offers all the assets of a tourist stop, or for replenishments after  sailing in La Manche. It is freely accessible 24 hours a day and has a total of 1 300 mooring spaces. Le Havre is the nearest deep water yachting harbour to Paris.

Whether you are in town, in the forest or at the countryside, there is always something to discover in Le Havre and the region! There is no way you can get bored: go sea bathing, yachting, visit old buildings, venture sightseeing trips; you are bound to find what you’re looking for, regardless of your age and tastes, whatever the season.
Several fine examples of Le Havre architecture are standing today. With its old stones, museums, music, theatre, dancing and reading, Le Havre has something to suit every taste.

Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in the centre is one of the most spacious public squares in Europe. The 16th–17th-century Church of Notre-Dame is one of the few surviving old buildings; although damaged during World War II, it was restored in the 1970’s. The Church of Saint-Joseph is an unusual reinforced-concrete edifice.

Set in the heart of the historical quarter of St. François, the Ancient
Le Havre Museum occupies the former home of Michel Dubocage de Bléville, navigator, Ship owner and Naturalist of the 17th Century. You can discover the adventure of Le Havre and through it, the history of shipbuilding, nautical activities and architecture.

Fine Arts gallery André Malraux is a glass and metal building from the Sixties. The Musée des Beaux Arts presents the visitors with a unique occasion of contemplating Monet and other Impressionist masters in the very light that attracted them to Normandy coast. The largest collection in the world of sketches by Eugène Boudin are on view as well as many works by Raoul Dufy, who was born in Le Havre.

The Graville Priory is a Romanesque abbey with interesting capitals. It was built over the tomb of Sainte Honorine, patron saint of bargemen, and became a place of pilgrimage. Today the building houses the museum of Religious Art and Old dwellings. In the garden you can admire the statue of the black Virgin.

Opened in 1959, Tancarville Bridge, 17 miles away, links Le Havre with the European road network. The Normandy cable stayed Bridge opened in 1995, established a new world record for its class.

Kyrenia Culture Cyprus

Allgemein, England, Zypern, , ,

The Turkish army invaded a magnificent city built by Greeks centuries ago on the northern coast of Cyprus, on 20th July 1974. Its people experienced the first wave of Turkish atrocities. Today its beauties are exploited by the invader and the stolen properties are used to attract tourists in the occupied part of Cyprus by the illegal regime. Situated on the north coast of Cyprus, Kyrenia, with its 6,000 year long history, unique remains of countless civilisations, miles of natural beaches, calm sea, and mild climate is the perfect holiday resort.

Bounded to the north by the sea and to the south by the Besparmak Mountain range, it offers the benefits of both sea and mountain air, and is thus an ideal resort for health and relaxation- indeed, many foreigners have retired here the beautiful harbour is dominated by a majestic castle which houses a museum containing the remains of an ancient ship which was salvaged from the sea. There are several mosques and churches to see in the town, and the Museum of Folk Arts, and of Decorative Arts and Painting are well worth a visit the museum is housed in a typical old-style Cypriot house.

Inside is an interesting exhibition of traditional crafts. The ground floor of this three-storey house is divided into two parts by a pointed arch just under the main entrance door and was used as a barn (granary).

On the first floor, there is a display of everyday implements used by Cypriots centuries ago. They include an oil press, a plough, agricultural tools, weaving looms, and large earthenware pots. The second floor is a little more than a sitting room, but on the third floor, there is a colourful display of traditional local handicrafts, crochet-work, embroidered bedspreads, pillowslips, and scarves, and a selection of Cypriot costumes and household items. The museum is open daily, except on Sundays.

Museum is housed in a typical old-style Cypriot house. Inside is an interesting exhibition of traditional crafts. The ground floor of this three-storey house is divided into two parts by a pointed arch just under the main entrance door and was used as a barn (granary).

The architectural features, however, take second place to the surviving wall paintings. The great glory of the church is the Christ Pantocrator, which, wounded by blasts of buckshot, stares down from the dome within a rainbow circle. There is a flicker of surprise, a hint of recognition in Christ’s face, as if you might be yet another Judas coming to plant a fatal kiss in a garden. Below him is a circle of winged angels and the Virgin and St John lead saints in a procession before the empty throne. In the third circle, the 12 apostles are seated on spacious thrones, an odd departure from their usual standing-only rule, and below them are pairs of prophets interspaced between the windows. The dome paintings date from the early 15th century. The posture of the figures and colours are typically Byzantine, but there is also a breath of the Renaissance about them, noticeable even in Christ’s blue cloak which has an implicit sense of drama and movement

The Virgin Blachernitissa in the eastern apse, with its deep blue and old gold, is part of the original 12th century decoration. She is flanked by two archangels, Gabriel in scarlet and Michael in green, both wearing the costume and carrying the red rods of ushers from the Comnenian court at Constantinopole Vrysin, near Kyrenia, is an early pottery-using Neolithic village, dated between 4-3000 B.C. The litter-strewn floors of the huts were constantly replastered with clay, forming fascinating layers filled with evidence of everyday life, which were dug away by archaeologists in 1969. From the litter evidence, we know that the dead were buried beneath the floors in close contact with the living.

Lamps lighted the inside walls of the huts were plastered and the windowless interiors. The hearth fire and a nearby bench were slightly raised above the floor, which was covered with rush mats. Polished stone axes, hand mills, figurines, bone needles and fragments of boldly decorated white pottery suggests a high level of culture.

Fish, sheep, goat and pig bones indicate a varied diet. Cat bones also have been found, perhaps less for the cooking pot than for the early humans need for 24-hour rodent patrols to protect stored corn. It was at first presumed that the circular huts may have supported a beehive-shaped dome like the Troulli houses of southern Italy, but it now appears that the walls, though thick, are still not strong enough. They may have borne a flat roof of timber and daub, or a pitched thatch of reed like that of a both in the Scottish Highlands.

Turuk Culture Finland

Allgemein, Englisch, Finland, ,

Turku has something to offer for both urban visitors and those interested in the treasures of history. Today, Turku, a city of high technology, is home to three universities, the University of Turku, the Turku School of Economics and the Åbo Akademi. Turku is a prominent harbour, fair and commercial city. It also serves as an important link between east and west and important stop along the King’s Road. As the provincial capital, Turku is the regional and administrative centre of Southwest Finland. The See of the Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop is located in Turku, and it also has the oldest Court of Appeal in Finland. Turku is a popular venue for congresses and other major events. Turku Hall in Artukainen seats nearly 12,000 spectators. The city has a busy cultural life.
Turku Cathedral is the mother church of the Lutheran Church of Finland, and national shrine. It is regarded as the most highly valued monument in Finnish architectural history. The Cathedral is still regularly used for divine service. The church was consecrated as a cathedral in 1300, when the reliquary of Finland’s first bishop, Bishop Henry, was transferred there. The history of Turku Castle goes back to the 1280`s. In the course of the centuries, a fortified base built for the royal governor of Finland and his troops gradually expanded into a massive grey stone castle.

Enjoy the Archipelago
In summer, a water-bus sails daily from the River Aura to the Naantali and the city recreation areas on the nearby islands. The Archipelago Ring Road, which connects the northern and western archipelago of Turku by means of ferries. You can now travel through the worlds most beautiful area in just one day. Sail to the archipelago on board a genuine, nostalgic steam ship, the last of its kind in Finland. Enjoy the delicacies of the ship’s kitchen on a breakfast, lunch or dinner cruise.

Turku – Finland’s Christmas City
In Turku, Christmas is celebrated from the first Sunday of Advent to the middle of January. During this time, Christmas events are arranged all over the city. In many Finnish families, the real Christmas begins on Christmas Eve at exactly 12 o’clock. This is when the inhabitants of Turku gather in front of Brinkkala House – and hundreds of thousands of Finns at their radio and television sets – to listen how Turku declares Christmas Peace to the whole of Finland. Turku is the only town in the Nordic Countries, where the tradition of Christmas Peace declaration has survived almost uninterrupted from the Middle Ages to the present day. More attractions in Turku: Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum, Sibelius Museum, Sailing ship Suomen Joutsen, Museum ship Sigyn, Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, Turku Art Museum and The Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum.

Göteborg Culture

Allgemein, Schweden, ,

GÖTEBORGS STAD

The Göteborg region is an old and exciting cultural area. The many ruins in the area prove that people were already living here 8,000 years ago.

Göteborg, which was granted its charter in 1621, was intended to act as Sweden´s gateway to the west. Its position was strategic. The area around the mouth of the River Göta had been an important trading centre since the 12th century. The city was built according to Dutch patterns, with streets and manmade canals in a strictly-designed system and a large square, the current Gustaf Adolfs Torg, next to the Large Canal.

Surrounded by walls, bastions and a moat, Göteborg was one of the most well-defended fortresses in Northern Europe at the end of the century. Three of the fortresses that were built outside the city still stand – Skansen Kronan, Skansen Lejonet and the New Älvsborg Fortress at the mouth of the river.

The Kronhus, the artillery´s magazine for ammunition and grain, and the Torstensson Palace, now the County Govenor´s Residence, are two of the few buildings inside the moat which have been preserved from the first decades. The Large Canal and the moat, together with the street network and the rectangular districts inside the moat, still stand.

The buildings which have been preserved from the 18th century are the East India Building, orginally a warehouse, auction room and office for the East India Company, and Kronhusbodarna, where the artillery had its workshops. The East India Company, which made Göteborg a flourishing city, was founded in 1731. The following year, the first East-Indiaman set sail for China and returned with a valuable cargo of tea, silk and china.

The appearance of the city changed dramatically during the 19th century. The fortresses were demolished and made way for the Kungsparken park and the Horticultural Society. The city expanded, some of the canals were filled in, the harbours and quays were extended. Famous buildings which have been preserved from this century are the Stock Exchange, the Central Railway Station, the Stora Theatre, the Feskekörka fish hall and the Saluhallen indoor market.
Entertainment and culture for all ages

Göteborg is one of Europe´s leading event cities. The large modern arenas, Ullevi and the Scandinavium, and the Liseberg amusement park are all located along the same street, in the heart of a living city environment. Just a couple of blocks away lies Avenyen, the main street, a popular area for pedestrians with its restaurants, cafés, shops, hotels, culture and entertainment. The programmes at the Göteborg Opera, theatres and museums also boost Göteborg´s position as the perfect city för visitors and events. Not to mention the successful Göteborg Symphony Orchestra.

Ullevi is Scandinavia´s largest outdoor arena for sport and events, with a capacity of around 43,000 seated spectators. The Scandinavium is a unique indoor arena, with 12,000 seats for everything from ice hockey and swimming competitions to musicals, rock concerts and congresses.

The beautiful Liseberg amusement park is the largest tourist attraction in Scandinavia. It features exciting rides, open-air stages, an amusement arcade, restaurants, a theatre and a concert hall. The park is famed for its wonderful flowers.

The theatres put on everything from repertory and experimental theatre to dance and revues. The Göteborg Opera is internationally renowned for its superb acoustics and unique stage technology.

When it comes to music, the alternatives are rich and varied, thereby guaranteeing something to suit every taste. The Göteborg Symphony Orchestra is Sweden´s national orchestra, as well as being one of the world´s leading symphony orchestras. The Göteborg Concert Hall is famous for its acoustics.

Göteborg has many museums which attract large numbers of visitors. The Rösska Museum, Sweden´s only design and arts and crafts museum and the Maritime Museum with its Aquarium, both of which are especially popular among families with children.

The Art Museum in Göteborg has fine collections of Nordic art and works by some of the world´s best-known artists.

The annual events include the Göteborg Party, the Göteborg Film Festival, Culture Night, the Göteborg Dance and Theatre Festival, the Göteborg Jazz Festival and Books & Library.