The clang of a hammer rang out from the chalet roof and echoed against the serene Pre-Alps of Fribourg, Switzerland. Vincent Gachet, one of the country’s few remaining master tavillonneurs, or traditional Swiss roof architects and shingle-makers, carefully placed a wooden shingle on the roof frame. He’d finally completed a square metre – a labour-intensive task that took an hour and required 250 shingles, of which only 12 were visible – and he needed to do 200 more to finish the job. This artful but tedious work of Gachet and other tavillonneurs like him are what keep this Swiss living tradition alive. View image of The Swiss art of tavillonnage, or wood-shingled roofs, dates to Gallo-Roman times (Credit: Credit: Alistair Scott/Alamy) You...
In the heart of Southern Europe lies a country that has forever held a special place in every traveller’s list. From a vast treasury of art, delightful delicacies, jaw-dropping fashion to gorgeous...
Cyprus is one of the best places to visit in the Mediterranean. The warm and cosy weather makes Cyprus a fantastic holiday destination all year round. The island is also filled with a lot of things...
Key Facts: Area: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq miles). Population: 38.8 million (2014). Population density: 16.3 per sq km. Capital: Algiers. Government: Republic. Head of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since 1999. Head of government: Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal since...
Traveling is one of the most self-affirming, horizon expanding things you can do. It can also be a major headache, when you’re not prepared. That’s why we’ve put together this list of...
One camping myth that has been busted for many years now is that people could not go camping during winter. This is inaccurate because winter, just like summer, has a lot to offer campers, especially in Australia. If you have not tried...
Key Facts: Area: 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq miles). Population: 38.8 million (2014). Population density: 16.3 per sq km. Capital: Algiers. Government: Republic. Head of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since 1999. Head of government: Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal since 2014. Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin...
Key Facts: Area: 1,246,700 sq km (481,354 sq miles). Population: 19.1 million (2014). Population density: 15.3 per sq km. Capital: Luanda. Government: Republic. ...
Key Facts: Area: 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq miles). Population: 10.2 million (2014). Population density: 90.2 per sq km. Capital: Porto-Novo. Government: Republic. ...