City Breaks

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   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 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!   

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      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 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!   

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    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 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!   

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

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   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 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!     

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    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 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!   

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'. 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     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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!   

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  

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    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 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 very much appreciated!   

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      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 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 very much appreciated!    

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    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 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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 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 very much appreciated

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 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 very much appreciated!           

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     

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     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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!       

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     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   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 very much appreciated!     

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    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 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 very much appreciated!         

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    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 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 very much appreciated!       

This episode centres on Marseille's most popular sights, the Old Port, the hilltop church of Notre Dame de la Garde, and the Canebière, the wide avenue leading back from the port into the heart of the city. After a few snippets of history, we tour such sights as the fish market, the iconic canopy built to mark Marseille's year as a City of European Culture in 2013, an ancient tower and a surprising link to Odessa in Ukraine.  We might take the little ferry across the harbour, we'll certainly walk - or maybe take the 'petit train' - up the hill to Notre Dame de la Garde, where a huge golden statue of Mary the Virgin watches protectively over the city.    Reading Suggestions The Wicked City by Nicholas Hewitt Marseille Port to Port by William Kornblum Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo Links for this post The Saint Jean Fort Deportation Memorial The Petit Train   Notre Dame de la Garde   Boat trips from the Old Port   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   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 very much appreciated!   

There are 26 centuries of history in Marseille, which is the oldest city in France!  This episode runs through 10 places where you can find traces of key moments in the city's past.  They range from the plaque commemorating the founding of Marseille in about 600 BC to the site where you can still see bullet holes from the fight to liberate the city from German occupation in 1944.  They're listed in chronological order, with a few of their stories attached and although this makes a good overview, we've saved some of the 'big-hitters' such as Notre Dame de la Garde and the Château d'If for later episodes where they'll get a fuller treatment. Reading Suggestions The Wicked City The many Cultures of Marseille  by Nicholas Hewitt Marseille Port to Port by William Kornblum    Links for this post Roman Docks Museum    Saint Victor Abbey  Memorial of the Marseillaise    Provencal Museum  Deportation Memorial  Museum of Marseille History     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 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 very much appreciated!       

Bienvenue à Marseille. Welcome to Marseille, the lively southern French city whose name rhymes with 'soleil'.   There's beauty in the Old Port and the stunning coastline, there's history and culture a-plenty in the museums, there's a Provencal feel - boules and bouillabaisse - overlaid with a vibrant multi-ethnic mix.  There's a little grit too, for this is the home of Marseille Noir crime fiction and the notorious Château d'If so graphically portrayed in The Count of Monte Cristo.   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! Links and Reading  Three useful websites for tourist Marseille Tourist Office    Marseille Tourisme.fr    About France: a short guide to Marseille   3 Guide Books The Rough Guide to Provence and the Côte d'Azur Marseille Travel Guide by Angela J Rea Marseille Travel Guide by Betty Vanslyke       4 books on Marseille Culture    The Wicked City The many cultures of Marseille by Nicholas Hewitt     Garlic, Mint and Sweet Basil by Jean-Claude Izzo      Unveiling Marseille Your Insider's Guide to the Multicultural Marvel by Tailored Travel Guides  Taste the World in Marseille by Vérane Frédiani  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 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 very much appreciated!   

Our introduction to literary Bordeaux begins with the 3 most famous Bordeaux authors, the ‘3 Ms', that is the philosophers Montaigne and Montesquieu and the novelist François Mauriac.  There are statues of them all in the city.   There are mini biographies and pointers to their works.  Then we follow up with more books set in and around Bordeaux - historical fiction, two very different detective stories and the true account of the web of spies – French, German, British – operating in Bordeaux during World War II.   Reading Suggestions The Essays A Selection by Michel Montaigne   How to Live A Life of Montaigne in 1 Question and 20 Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell      Persian Letters by Montesquieu   The Knot of Vipers by François Mauriac    Thérèse Desqueyroux by François Mauriac       The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick    Bordeaux Private Eye by Rorie Smith Game of Spies by Paddy Ashdown    Death in Bordeaux by Allan Massie     Link for this post Musee d'Aquitaine   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 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 very much appreciated! 

This post gives ideas for day trips from Bordeaux, focussing first on nearby St Émilion, attractive both for its history and its world-renowned wine industry.  To wander its cobbled streets is to find photo opportunities on every corner, both architectural gems and splendid scenery.  Then we cover ways to explore the countryside around Bordeaux and also the beaches and resorts along the nearby Atlantic coast.  Hikes and bike rides, boat trips and oyster tastings are all ways to enjoy the Nouvelle Aquitaine culture surrounding Bordeaux.   USEFUL LINKS Guided Tours in St Emilion Introduction to St Emilion The King's Keep Les Cordeliers Macarons de St Émilion Macarons Moulierac      St Èmilion Open Doors Festival Ban des Vendanges Festival Hot Air Balloon Festival Finding Beaches near Bordeaux  Cycle route from Bordeaux to Lacanau  Hiking trail around Bordeaux Oyster tasting in Arcachon Boat Trips from Arcachon More ideas for trips out from 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   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 very much appreciated!       

Food and Shopping: two of the major reasons for visiting Bordeaux! This episode lists some of top-notch products from Bordeaux's Atlantic coastline and the rich agricultural land surrounding it and highlights the areas of the city and some of the restaurants where you can enjoy them. Then we do the same for shopping, listing specialities and highlighting the shopping streets and markets you should look out for in different areas of the city. Don't forget, there's already been an episode on Bordeaux's wine. Useful Links  Bordeaux Food Tours    The Épicuriales Festival    Le Chapon Fin    Grand Hotel, Place de la Comédie    Brasserie Bordelaise    Café du Levant    Les Halles   Le 7 (Restaurant at Cité du Vin )   Galéries des Grands Hommes    L'Intendant    Librairie Mollat    Quai des Livres 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 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 very much appreciated!       

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     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 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 very much appreciated!       

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   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 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 very much appreciated!      

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 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 very much appreciated!     

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   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 very much appreciated!     

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   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   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 very much appreciated!     

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 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 very much appreciated!  

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        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 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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 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 very much appreciated!       

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   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 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 very much appreciated!  

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   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 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 very much appreciated!     

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     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 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 very much appreciated!     

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 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 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 very much appreciated!     

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   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 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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!       

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 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://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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 very much appreciated!                                                                                                   

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 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 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 very much appreciated!   

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 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 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 very much appreciated!     

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 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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!   

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   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 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 very much appreciated!