Author: Cheryl Brooks

THE HILLTOP CITY OF LAON – MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF FRANCE

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Laon’s enormous cathedral dominates the town.

Situated high above the flat plain of northern Picardy, is the medieval city of Laon, known as the ‘Montagne Couronnée’ (the Crowned City). It sits isolated atop a 100m high limestone rock, surrounded by the low, flat plains below. The high town, encircled by 8 kms of walls and formidable gates, is France’s largest protected historic centre. The town’s crowning glory is the early 12^th century Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon, visible for kilometres in every direction. It’s one of the earliest and greatest Gothic monuments in France.

TWO ART DECO WONDERS IN LILLE, NORTHERN FRANCE

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The Art Deco La Piscine Museum, formerly a municipal swimming pool

The City of Lille in the north of France is one of the loveliest in the country. Although largely unknown outside France, Lille has so much to captivate the visitor. From a beautiful historic quarter, much of which is pedestrianised, to great food, excellent shopping possibilities, and an enormous number of cultural attractions. Two of these are Art Deco gems, located outside the city in the suburbs of Roubaix and Croix, just a quick metro or tram ride from the city centre.

DISCOVER LILLE, ONE OF FRANCE’S BEST-KEPT SECRETS

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Grand Place, Lille and its beautiful Flemish-style architectue. Photo, Shutterstock

Capital of the Hautes-de-France region, Lille may be France’s most underrated city. Recent decades have seen the country’s 4^th largest city transform from an industrial powerhouse into a vibrant and highly attractive cultural and commercial hub. Lille offers a beautiful old town with magnificent French and Flemish architecture, renowned art museums, a wide variety of great shops, outstanding cuisine, and a lively atmosphere thanks to a large population of university students and some 1600 designers in its environs. High speed direct trains from Paris and Brussels and 1½ hrs on Eurostar from London, makes Lille an easy choice for inclusion in a European itinerary.

A ONCE-FAMOUS LONDON COURTHOUSE NOW A CHIC HOTEL

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NoMad Hotel, the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court.

The latest London hotel everyone is talking about is NoMad, the first outside New York for the group that owns it. The interesting thing though is that it occupies the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, a landmark historic building. It’s located opposite the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and had been closed since 2006. It was the most famous Magistrates’ Court in England in the latter part of its 266 year existence, being the venue for such notorious cases involving high profile trials for the likes of Oscar Wilde, Giacomo Casanova, the Kray twins, Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, Christine Keeler, and General Pinochet, among many other reluctant visitors.

A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION OF A LONDON ICON

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View of the entire Battersea Power Station complex.

Since it was decommissioned in 1983, the Battersea Power Station had stood derelict on the south bank of the River Thames. Renowned for its four chimneys and Art Deco design, after decades of decay, the iconic Grade ll* heritage listed building has undergone a massive transformation, opening in late 2022. This complex project has opened the building and riverside to the public for the first time, retaining the power station’s unique historical features, but giving it a new 21^st century purpose.