The Culture Bank

If your idea of the perfect holiday involves relaxing in the middle of breathtaking scenery and historic villages, and enjoying the finest of fine wines, there is no better place than Burgundy in Eastern France.

Location

A three-hour drive south of Paris, Burgundy and its four regions (the Yonne, the Côte d’Or, the Nièvre and Saône-et-Loire) are easily accessible via France’s high-speed train, the TGV, from all major French cities.

Holiday Properties in Burgundy

Accommodation in Burgundy ranges from beautiful old-fashioned cottages to more modern hotels, providing a fantastic diversity.  You are sure to find the perfect property for your needs.

Things to Do in Burgundy

Steeped in history, this French region is home to many cathedrals, museums and medieval towns that are sure to capture the imagination of any holidaymaker, young or old.  The area is mainly known for its world famous vineyards, producing unrivalled red and white wines that provide the ideal accompaniment to a relaxing evening.  Specialist holiday packages are available such as canal cruises and cycling trips for those wanting to see the area in all its glory.

Weather wise, Burgundy offers fine weather all year round, with autumn known as its best season; the beautiful weather combines wonderfully with the region’s own splendour to create the perfect backdrop for the perfect holiday.

After choosing from the wide selection of holiday accommodation and rentals available in Burgundy, you can look forward to a peaceful getaway in one of France’s most picturesque regions.

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden, with a population of just under 900,000 inhabitants; including the suburbs and surrounding region, this rises to just over two million.  This makes Stockholm and its surroundings the most populated area throughout the Scandinavian region.

Visitors are attracted to Stockholm for its relatively liberal atmosphere and as a base to explore the Stockholm archipelago and the rest of Sweden.

The historic heart of Stockholm is known as Gamla Stan (the Old Town).  This area is situated on the island of Stadsholmen, with surrounding islands named Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Stromsborg.  The Old Town dates back to Stockholm’s foundation in the 13th century.  There are a number of narrow medieval streets and old buildings for you to admire whilst exploring the area.  The central square, Stortorget, is home to the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

The Old Town is also home to the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum and Riddarholm Church are located.  As with many historic city centres around the world, Stockholm’s Old Town is a key tourist area.  There are restaurants, bars, clubs and shopping venues within easy walking distance, but if you wish to travel further afield, Stockholm has a good transport network that is well maintained, clean and typically punctual.

The Old Town is an ideal place to meet with friends or family before exploring the city and its surroundings in more depth.

For the best skiing 2011, consider Seefeld, Austria, located in the beautiful province of Tirol, situated near the Karwendel Nature Reserve.  Seefeld offers some of the most elegant skiing in all of Europe.

Seefeld has access to some 250 kilometres of ski trails and has hosted the Olympic Winter games, not once, but twice in the last fifty years.  It is considered to be the cross country skiing capital of Europe.

The skiing here is more focused on enjoyment and relaxation of tree-lined slopes with a stunning backdrop, and is all done between two sets of mountains.  Beginner skiers can have a great learning experience on the nursery slopes of Geigenbuhel and the more advanced skiers can have plenty of skiing on the Gschwandtkopf Mountain, with its peak at 500 meters.  There are numerous five star hotels available, all with first class amenities.  Even a casino awaits those who venture a bet.

The entertainment is sophisticated, but not wild at all.  The many family-run inns and pubs in the area offer live music, dancing and hearty, award-winning cuisine.

Other things to do include tobogganing, snowshoeing, ice skating, curling and paragliding.  You can also go swimming in an Olympic-sized pool, play squash or tennis, or go bowling if you choose.  Or, take a beautiful ten minute mountain railway ride across the valley to Rosshulte.

With all that Seefeld, Austria has to offer, it is no wonder it is considered the best skiing 2011.

The eastern part of the Federal Republic of Germany, recently reintegrated after the collapse of Communism, is full of cultural and historic treasures that have been largely unexplored compared with the west, but the area is becoming increasingly attractive to holidaymakers.

Visitors are attracted by the lake district of Lower Brandenburg, hiking trails in the Hartz Mountains of Saxony-Anhalt and the Lusatian Mountains, the picturesque valley of the Elbe River and the vast Thuringian Forest, all in the eastern part of Germany and largely undiscovered.

All the regions of Germany have their own local traditions, festivals, traditional costumes, cuisines and even beers, and eastern Germany is no exception.  It is rediscovering its heritage with a vengeance, and experiencing great growth in tourism.

Historic sites, ranging from grand architecture in Dresden and Leipzig, to huge baroque buildings in Potsdam and Brandenburg, and the high culture of Weimar in Thuringia, home of Goethe, are drawing adventurous tourists looking for something a bit more vibrant in their holidays.

The huge Gothic cathedral in Naumburg is one of the greatest structures in Germany, with huge statues of its founders gracing the walls of the presbytery, and in Potsdam the Baroque summer residence of King Frederick the Great is set in a landscape of vineyards and gardens and rivals Versailles in its magnificence.

Visit eastern Germany and discover some of the hidden architectural and cultural gems in this perennially fascinating country.

Holidaying on the French Riviera is a dream come true for people who want to relax and enjoy the beauty of France.  Nice is one of the best cities along the French Riviera to visit; the different cultures that have contributed to its development have made it a city with plenty to offer holidaymakers.

Nice has many lodging options for holiday goers, including luxury hotels and villas that can be rented.  From your window, you can see the city squares, gardens, fountains, and parks.  The city is also full of high end restaurants, French coffee shops, and plenty of unique shops.

There are many exciting activities to do and attractions to see when spending a holiday in Nice.  Its castle in ruins is a remnant of the city’s medieval time, and visitors who brave the climb are rewarded with a beautiful view of the city’s harbour.  Cimiez is the hilltop area of Nice, and it’s one of the most upscale areas of the city.  It used to be a Roman capital, but it now holds museums, parks, and a quaint olive grove.

To add to the multicultural appeal of Nice, plan a visit to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.  It is a Russian Orthodox cathedral that was later converted to a French monument.  After visiting the cathedral, visitors can stop at the popular Glacier Fenocchio.  It’s an ice cream shop with 70 flavours!

Nice is a unique city where you can experience Roman, Greek, and French culture.  Holidaymakers can forget the stresses of work and life in this gorgeous resort city.

Seville is a beautiful Spanish city for holidaymakers.  It is the capital of Andalucía, a province in southern Spain.  Seville offers many features for visitors to enjoy, including the Guadalquivir River that runs through the city.  Seville is unique because of the various cultural influences that are evident in the city. 

The Moors occupied the city until 1248: many architectural features in the city still bear the mark of this occupation.  Despite the Moors’ occupation, Christianity has had a major influence in Seville.  The Seville Cathedral is one of the most impressive attractions in the region.  It is comparable to the beautiful cathedrals of St. Paul’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London.  In addition to the architecture, visitors can also enjoy the artwork within the cathedral.

When compared to the Seville Cathedral, the Moorish palace known as Alcazar of Seville demonstrates the variety of cultures that have played a role in the city’s history.  The architecture has an obvious Moorish influence, but there are Christian influences throughout the palace.  The gardens located within the palace walls are beautifully landscaped and are an ideal location for a relaxing walk.

If you wish to explore Seville’s history and culture, you should visit the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes de Sevilla.  It features Spanish artwork, including some pieces by the famous Spanish artist El Greco.

When holidaymakers want to visit an area of historical significance, there is no better city to visit than Seville.  Packed with architectural wonders and artwork, Seville offers visitors a means of experiencing the highlights of Spanish history.

Germany is a hidden gem when it comes to skiing, and the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of Germany’s prime resort areas recognised for amenities and great slopes. 

Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosted the winter Olympics in the 1930s and the town itself is home to approximately 30,000 residents.

Ski holiday deals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen can include relatively easy access to slopes through ground travel or more adventurous treks up the mountain by cable car.  The trip up the mountain is an adventure in itself.  

Skiers here will enjoy Zugspitze, which is Germany’s highest mountain at 10,000 ft.  The glacier-topped beauty has ski runs for all skill levels and also offers cross country skiing and, of course, glacier skiing.  This mountain borders Austria and the visitor centre at the top is often crowded with tourists enjoying the stunning view over both countries.    

Zugspitze boasts Germany’s first superpipe.  Enjoy this well-groomed run for an extreme skiing experience.  If the weather is clear and sunny, skiing on Zugspitze is unforgettable.  However, harsh winter storms and the high altitude can create uncomfortable conditions for even experienced skiers.  If the winter weather is uncooperative, there are a variety of large and small hotels and lodges with good choices for restaurants and lounges   Some of the larger hotels have spa facilities for après-ski relaxation.

Berlin has had a troubled and violent history and left a few unfortunate legacies and associations, but it is a city that has rediscovered its more cultured and civilised past, and is now a prime attraction on the Continent.  Maybe it’s precisely because of its past traumas that Berlin these days is one of the most open, welcoming and exciting cities in the world, as if making up for lost time.

Luxury Berlin holidays will introduce you to a fascinating city with a wealth of historic monuments and buildings, as well as some of the best shopping around.  Take a tour of the world-class museums and art galleries, stroll in extensive parkland and experience the fantastic nightlife.  Music is in Berlin’s soul, from cabaret to classical concerts and the very latest in-house music.

This multi-cultural city has some of the most varied cuisine in Germany, from traditional Teutonic fare to Thai, Turkish, Chinese and much more besides, and is a gourmet capital.

Famous places to explore on a luxury break include Berlin Zoo, Reichstag and the great Brandenburg Gate, symbol of the city.

Luxury holidays cater for your usual needs and then add another layer of service to make your stay as enjoyable as possible, including collection from the airport and valeting.  There’s no better way to see a pulsating city such as Berlin, where there’s so much to see and do that you don’t have time for attending to anything not relevant to your enjoyment of the vacation.

France is a popular holiday destination for skiers.  Whether you started skiing before you could walk, or you are just a beginner, thousands of Brits head to France for winter skiing holiday deals.  This article aims to give you a brief overview of possible skiing destinations in France.

Alpe d’Huez

Alpe d’Heuz is often considered to be one of France’s top skiing destinations.  It offers an extensive skiing area of 160 miles of pistes, including 86 ski lifts and 107 ski runs.  One of the main attractions of Alpe d’Huez is the Pic Blanc, and the resort claims that about one fifth of France can be seen from the top.

Avoriaz

Avoriaz is a purpose built French resort along the France/Switzerland border.  A number of different resorts comprise the Avoriaz, in total offering over 400 miles of pistes, including 228 lifts.  The most famous skiing network within this resort is the Chavenette, also known as The Swiss Wall.

Chamonix

Chamonix offers a range of ski runs for a range of difficulty levels.  For example, more advanced skiers are likely to want to ski the Aiguille du Midi, which not only offers fantastic skiing, it also offers breath-taking views on the way down.

Courchevel

Along with the abundance of four-star hotels offered in this ski resort, Courchevel also offers some excellent skiing.  Sous le Télépherique, Grand and Emile Allais are all black ski runs which attract the more experienced skiers.

This is life in the slow lane: a relaxed cruise down a long river with stops at small towns and villages for a unique insight into countries and cultures.  The river cruise experience is enjoyed by over 100,000 people a year, and for good reason.

Ocean cruises are, by definition, coastal only so you won’t get to see the interior of a country; many of a country’s most interesting cities are on rivers in the interior.  As with ocean going cruises, river cruises offer regular stops for passengers that want to hop off and explore.

One shining example of the modern river cruise vessel is the stunning new ship the Victoria Jenna, a river cruise ship with a 416 passenger capacity.  This ship is run by Victoria Cruises and takes passenger along the Yangtze River in China, between Chongqing and Yichang.

River cruises are especially popular on European rivers such as the Seine (think Paris), Rhine, Danube and Douro.  However river cruises are becoming popular further afield, with cruises down the Nile becoming ever more popular as a great way to travel between the amazing sites of ancient Egypt.  Even Russia’s waterways are becoming more popular.

There are plenty of reasons why river cruises are popular, but perhaps one standout feature is the smaller scale of river cruises.  Many people find it more relaxing to be on a smaller ship with a little less chaos and a chance to get to know your fellow passengers more intimately.