Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 The great Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is one of Europe’s most popular castles. Thanks to its breathtaking location and architecture, the castle looks like something out of a fairy tale. This was somewhat the intention of Bavarian King Ludwig II, who ordered the construction of the castle as a fantasy retreat from reality. After losing control of the Bavarian army and most of his real power, Ludwig II began planning a series of lavish palaces and castles where he could isolate himself and indulge his dreams of royalty. Neuschwanstein

Linderhof Palace, Germany

The German state of Bavaria is renowned for its beautiful views and magnificent architecture, and some of its most impressive sites were built under the rule of King Ludwig II, the area’s “fairy tale king.” During his 22-year reign, the king commissioned two palaces and a castle. Linderhof Palace, featured in this video, is the only one to have been completed as planned. Surely eccentric, and even known to some as the “Mad King,” Ludwig went heavily into debt to construct these buildings, which largely pay homage to King Louis XIV of France and the romantic works of composer Richard Wagner. This debt became one of the reasons for the king’s eventual deposition. Ironically, Ludwig’s self-indulgent

Wat Arun at Sunset

Thailand holds tens of thousands of Buddhist temples, but none as famous as Wat Arun, the beautiful “temple of the dawn” in the capital city of Bangkok. The exact age of Wat Arun is unknown, but it dates back at least to the 1600s, during the era of the country’s Ayutthaya Kingdom. The iconic spires– or prongs— were not added until the reign of King Rama II in the nineteenth century. The tallest spire is a symbol for Mount Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe. It stands over 260 feet tall. Visitors to the temple can climb the central prong via a series of steep steps, for a beautiful view of surrounding Bangkok. This eScapes

Saint Jean de Cole, France

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Surrounded by lush hills and filled with historic architecture, the village of St. Jean de Cole is widely appreciated as one of the most beautiful in France. While the village holds many quaint restaurants, hotels, shops, schools, and offices, its standout buildings, seen in this eScapes video, are the Chateau de la Marthonie and the medieval church of St. Jean Baptiste. With such beautiful scenery and a population of only about 350 people, Saint Jean de Cole is a great destination for a relaxing getaway. Gregg Karukas is a

The Pyramids of Giza

Watch a full HD version of this single song sample episode on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 Few sites in the world are as revered as the pyramids of the Giza Necropolis. These timeless structures seem to simultaneously defy time and logic and they stand in the shifting Egyptian sands. The oldest and largest pyramid at the site, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was built more than 4,500 years ago and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for 3,871 of those years, until the completion of England’s Lincoln Cathedral in 1311 AD. It is also the only surviving destination from the original Seven Wonders of the World. Just as famous in modern

Chester, England

World Cities & Harbors
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Founded as a Roman fort in the first century, Chester, England now blends its historic atmosphere with modern attractions and luxuries. Nicknamed “the walled city” for the two miles of stone walls around it, Chester has made a conscious effort to preserve its heritage. History is reflected around every turn: in medieval buildings and cathedrals and in street names like “Eastgate” and “Foregate” that hark back to the city’s origins. A relatively recent addition to the city is the Eastgate Clock, built in 1899 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The second-most photographed clock in the United Kingdom (after Big Ben), the clock is a tourist attraction and a worthy complement to the Victorian-era timber-frame buildings

Dubai (Skyscrapers & Skyline)

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 Rich from oil, shipping, and banking revenues, the city of Dubai has entered the 21st century as a Middle Eastern boomtown. Tourism and real estate development are now major sectors of Dubai’s economy. Although development has slowed in the wake of the global financial crisis, at one time the city was estimated to have up to a quarter of the entire world’s construction cranes. Dubai is now a vertical metropolis filled with impressive modern skyscrapers, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which opened in 2010. The ubiquity

Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s largest cities and most popular tourist destinations. Centered in the center of the country on the Reuss River, Lucerne is known for the Chapel Bridge, a wooden footbridge built in 1333. Unfortunately, much of the bridge has been reconstructed since 1993, when it was gutted by a fire alleged to have started from a discarded cigarette. This eScapes scene brings you an afternoon view of the Chapel Bridge and its Water Tower, a building that houses dozens of paintings that recall events from Lucerne’s history. In centuries past, it was also used as a treasury, library, prison, and torture chamber. Also featured in this video is Lucerne’s Jesuit Church, another famous

Bangkok, Thailand (Chao Phraya River)

Like most great cities, Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is situated on a great river: the Chao Phraya, which runs 231 miles from the center of the country into the Gulf of Thailand. On a typical afternoon, the waters of the Chao Phraya are bustling with boat traffic. Ferries, river buses, and traditional longtail water taxis connect the two sides of Bangkok while freight barges move cargo up and down the river. The banks of the Chao Phraya are home to relatively sparse but impressive skyscrapers. Prominently featured in this eScapes video are the three towers of the Chatrium Riverside hotel and residence, where a 1248-square-foot condominium sells for about $300,000. The towers are part of a recent

Château Margaux, France

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Bordeaux’s Chateau Margaux is one of the most prestigious wine producers in France. Though its history dates back to the 12th century, it wasn’t until the 1570s that the grounds were used as a vineyard. The beautiful chateau itself wasn’t built until the 19th century but it’s already become a French historical monument, as well as a monument to the French winemaking tradition. Chateau Margaux wines are known throughout the world and have a price to match their reputation. In 2011, bottles of Margaux ranged from $225 to $2,400.

Tag Archives: architecture

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany